MEMOIR'S 


REV.  WALTER  M.  LOWRIE, 


MISSIONARY    TO    CHINA. 


EDITED  BY  HIS  FATHER. 


THIKD   THOUSAND. 


NEW  YORK: 
BOARD  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 

No.    23    CENTRE    STREET. 
1850. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1849, 

BY    WALTER    LOWRIE, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


STEREOTYPED   BY   THOMAS   B.    SMITH, 
216  WILLIAM   STREET,    N.  T. 


PREFACE. 


THE  Editor  of  this  Memoir  has  done  little  more  than  to  select 
and  arrange  the  papers  of  his  beloved  son.  A  few  remarks  have 
been  made  with  the  view  of  noticing  his  early  years,  and  connect- 
ing the  different  periods  of  his  short  but  active  and  not  unvaried 
life.  The  plan  adopted  was  to  let  him  speak  for  himself  in  his  letters 
and  journals ;  though  some  letters  from  his  missionary  brethren, 
and  others  in  the  ministry  at  home,  who  knew  him,  have  been 
given  at  the  end  of  the  volume.  From  these  every  reader  will  form 
his  own  estimate  of  his  character  and  acquirements.  A  few  of  the 
many  letters  from  Christian  friends,  as  the  sad  intelligence  of  his 
death  reached  them,  have  also  been  inserted. 

His  letters  for  the  most,  part  were  hastily  written,  many  of  them 
in  the  confidence  of  Christian  and  endeared  friendship.  His  jour- 
nals also  were  written  at  the  dates  mentioned,  and  his  other  en- 
gagements gave  him  no  time  to  correct  or  copy  them. 

Two  volumes  of  private  journals  were  found  after  his  death 
among  his  papers  ;  but  they  were  destroyed,  in  accordance  with  his 
special  written  request  to  his  friend  Rev.  M.  S.  Culbertson,  or  either 
of  his  surviving  colleagues. 

The  work  has  been  stereotyped,  and  the  entire  expense  of 
this  edition  has  been  defrayed  by  Christian  friends,  to  whom  his 
memory  is  very  dear.  Whatever  profit  may  arise  from  the  sale 
will  be  applied  to  the  enlargement  of  the  Ningpo  mission,  under 
the  care  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian 
Chuich. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  THIRD  EDITION. 


A  third  edition  of  this  work  has  been  called  for  within  nine 
months  of  the  time  of  its  publication,  each  edition  containing  1000 
copies.  Much  the  largest  number  have  been  disposed  of  by  the 
kind  assistance  of  Ministers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  whom 
packages  of  ten  copies  each  have  been  sent,  direct  from  the 
Mission  House.  This  plan  has  been  most  favorable  to  a  wide 
diffusion  of  the  work,  and  thus  has  more  than  compensated  for 
the  trouble  and  expense  of  sending  them  to  distant  places.  The 
entire  work  is  owned  by  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  and 
every  copy  sold,  besides  aiding  the  funds,  does  something  to 
promote  a  missionary  spirit  by  the  information  thus  afforded. 
In  view  of  all  these  circumstances,  it  has  been  deemed  best  that 
the  work  be  now  published  directly  by  the  Board  itself. 
NEW  YORK,  September,  1850. 


CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER  I. 

FEBRUARY,  1819— SEPTEMBER,  1847. 
EARLY  LIFE   AND   COURSE   AT  COLLEGE. 


LETTERS. 


His  Father.    Religious  Impressions, 
Revival  in  College,     . 

"  First  Communion, 

His  Mother.   Religious  Views, 
His  Father.    Duty  as  to  the  Ministry, 

"  Religious  Views, 


His  Mother.    Foreign   Missions.     Death   of 

Lyman  and  Monson, 
Feelings.    A  Grave- Yard, 
His  Father.    Duty  as  to  Foreign  Missions, 

The  Question  decided, 
"  Through  College.    Grade, 


Pag. 

12 
13 

15 
10 
17 


CHAPTER  II. 

OCTOBER,  1837— JANUARY,  1842. 

RETURN  HOME  FROM  COLLEGE. — COURSE  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY  AT 
PRINCETON. — ACCEPTED  AS  A  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY. SAILS  FOR  CHINA. 


LETTERS. 


John  Lloyd.    College  Times.    Missions, 
Roger  Owen.    On  Sabbath  Schools, 
John  Lloyd.    Swartz.    Comfort  in  Christ, 
Roger  Owen.    On  Sabbath  Schools, 
His  Mother.    Daily  Employments, 
Roger  Owen.    Sabbath  Schools.    Missions, 
His  Mother.    Christian  Duties.    Studies, 
John  M.  Lowrie.    Death  of  Relatives,    . 
John  Lloyd.    Personal  Religion,     . 
Roger  Owen.    Tone  of  College  Piety,     . 
John  Lloyd.     Love  of  Christ.    Missions, 
Roger  Owen.    Sabbath  Schools,     . 
John  Lloyd.    Western  Africa, 
His  Mother.  Seminary  Students,    . 
John  Lloyd.    Africa.    India.    China,    . 
His  Mother.    Beauty  of  Scripture, 
Thomas  W.  Kerr.    Missionary  Spirit,    . 
John  M.  Lowrie.    Study  of  the  Bible,    . 
John  Lloyd.    Christian  Course.    Africa, 


Two  Sabbath  School  Scholars,        . 
His  Mother.    Strangers  and  Pilgrims,    . 
John  Lloyd.  Studies.    Works  of  God, 
His  Mother.    Journey  to  the  West,         . 
Executive  Committee.    Missions,  .        . 
John  Lloyd.    Friendship.    Prospects,  . 
John  O.  Procter.    How  little  we  know, 


His  Mother.    The  Country.    Journey, 

His  Father.    Change  of  Field  to  China,          . 

His  Mother.    Detroit.    Forest.   Flowers.   Ni- 

agara. Grave-yard.  Missicns,  57 

"            Journey  West  .....  63 

Wm.  H.  Hornblower.    Presence  of  Christ,    .  64 

John  O.  Procter.    On  leaving  for  China,         .  65 
John  Lloyd.    Feelings.    Faith,       .        .        .66 

Mrs.  Ann  Porter.    On  leaving  Friends,  .        .  68 

Rev.  Thos.  W.  Kerr.    Sabbath  Schools,         .  68 

John  M.  Lowrie.    On  the  Eve  of  Sailing,      .  70 


CHAPTER  III. 

JANUARY  19— MAY  27,  1849. 

VOYAGE   TO   CHINA. — JOURNAL   IN   THE   HUNTRESS. 


71 

72 
73 
77 
79 
81 
84 
85 

A  Calm.    Sunsets.    Sailors,  . 
Stars.    The  Sailmaker, 

• 

87 
89 
91 
93 
95 
97 
101 
103 

Rocks  of  Martin  Vas.    Stare, 
Magellan  Clouds.    Missions, 
A  Squall.    The  Ocean.    Home,    . 
A  Sailor.    The  Ocean.    A  Gale.    Albatross 
Stormy  Petrels.    A  Storm.    Winds,     . 
A  Ship.    Dreams.    Trade  Winds, 

Carlyle.    Sermon  on  board,    . 
Reading.    Wisdom  of  God.    Starp, 
Sermon.    Trade  Winds.    Flying-Fish, 
Trade  Winds.    The  Sabbath, 
Studies.    A  Shark.    Birth-day, 

CONTENTS. 


Sabbath.    Preaching  to  Sailors, 
Rain.    Sea  Gnats.    Thunder, 
An  Island.    Boobies.    Java, 
Heathen.    Ships.    Augicr,    . 


109 
111 
113 
117 


Angler.    Malays.    Learned  Sailor,       .       .  121 

China  S;a.    Missions.    Preaching,       .        .  123 

Sailmaker.    Gales.    China,  ....  126 

IV  his  Mother,  with  his  Journal,  .       ,       .  129 


CHAPTER  IV. 

1842. 

LANDING  IN  CHINA. — VOYAGE  IN  THE  SEA  QUEEN. — SHIPWRECK  IN  THE  HARMONY.- 
RETUEN  TO  MACAO. 


LETTERS  AND  JOURNALS. 


His  Mother.    Macao.    Hong  Kong,      .       .  131 

His  FHther.    China.    Missions,     ...  134 

John  Lloyd.    Mission  to  China,    .        .        .  138 

His  Mother.    China  Sea.    Journal,      .       .  140 

Embarks.    Lascars.    Alone,         .        .        .  141 

Calms.    Monsoon.    Currents.    Gale,  .  146 

Delays.    Currents.    Storms.    Faith,    .        .  151 

Providence.    The  Parting,     ....  155 

Course  of  the  Sea  Queen,      ....  156 

John  M.  Lowrie.    Studies  at  Sea,         .        .  157 

Rov.  T.  L.  McBryde.    Plans  delayed,  .       .  158 


His  Mot! 
Rev.  Th 
His  Broth 


Scenes  in  Manila,    . 
W.  Kerr.    Stay  in  Manila, 
•Voyage  on  China  Sea,    . 


Shipwreck  In  the  'Harmony,  . 
To  the  Second  Presbytery  of  New  York, 
His  Mother.    Missionary  Trials,    . 
His  Father.    First  Letter  from  Home, 
His  Mother.    Letters  from  Home, 
James  Lenox,  Esq.    Romanists  in  China, 
His  Father.    Early  Instruction, 
John  Lloyd.    Missions  in  China,  . 


160 
161 
162 
165 
178 
182 
184 
184 
185 
187 
188 


CHAPTER  V. 

1843. 

RESIDENCE  IN  MACAO. VOYAGE  UP  THE  COAST. — DESCRIPTION  OF  AMOY  AND 

OHANG-CHOW. RETURN  TO  MACAO. 


LETTERS  AND  JOURNALS. 


Rev.  J.  M.  Lowrie.    Missions  in  China,       .  193 
His  Mother.    Various  Thoughts,  ...  194 
"             Home.    Heaven.    Sabbath,  .  196 
John  Lloyd.    Chinese  Language,        .       .  198 
His  Father.   Effects  of  Heat.  Preaching.  Chi- 
nese Dictionary, 202 

Journal  to  Amoy  and  Chiisan,       .        .        .  203 

Boat  Population.    Hong  Kong,     .        .        .  204 

Opium.    Amoy.    Infanticide,       .        .        .  206 

Grave  of  Mrs.  Boone.    Monsoon,         .        .  210 

Opium.    Kulangsu, 212 

Kudhist  Temple, 2J4 

River.     Bay.     Boats, 215 

Chang-Chow.    Mandarins,    ....  218 

The  City.    Bridges.    Temples,  .        .  223 

Villages.    Multitudes,   .       .  227 


Chober.  Haetang.  Return  to  Amoy,  .  229 

Remarks  pn  the  foregoing,  ....  231 

Return.  Storm.  Danger,  ....  234 

Good  News  from  Home,  ....  236 
Death  of  Rev.  Mr.  Dyer,  .  .  .  .237 

To  his  Father.  Morrison's  Bible,  .  .  238 

"  Missionary  Trials,  .  .  241 

His  Brother.  Perils  of  the  Sea,  .  .  245 
Society  of  Inquiry,  Western  Theological 

Seminary, 248 

His  Father.  Missionary  Statements,  .  .  251 

His  M  >ther.  Chinese  Customs,  .  .  .  252 
Society  of  Inquiry,  Princeton.  Theological 

Seminary, 254 

His  Father.  Sir  Henry  Pottinger's  censure 

of  the  Vjsit  to  Chang'-Chow,       ...  261 


CHAPTER  VI. 

1844. 

RESIDENCE  IN  MACAO. — LETTERS. CHINESE  PRINTING  WITH  METAL  TYPE.' 

ARRIVAL  OF  NEW  MISSIONARIES. — THEIR  FIELDS  OF  LABOR. 


LETTERS. 


His  Mother.    Sabbath-breakin?.   .  2HJ 
"             His  Teacher.    Idolatry,   .  268 
His  Father.    Chinese  Letter,  with  "Transla- 
tion and  Notes. 270 

John  Lloyd.    Christian  Friendship,     .        .  274 

His  Mother.  Passing  Thoughts,    .       .       .  275 


His   Father.     To  visit  China.     A  Solemn 

Question  by  his  Teacher,   . 
Rev.  Levi  Janvier.    China  Missions,    . 
Recollections  of  a  Missionary, 
Rev.  J.  M.  Lowrie.    Ens*  ish  Preaching, 
Rev.  J.  Montgomery.    T  '.Us, 


276 
277 
279 
283 
284 


CONTENTS. 


Vll 


CHAPTER  VII. 

1845. 

DIFFERENT  MISSIONS  ESTABLISHED. — LEAVES  MACAO. — VOYAGE  UP  THE  COAST.- 
NINGPO. CHINESE  WRITTEN  AND  SPOKEN  LANGUAGE. 


LETTERS  AND  JOURNALS. 


His  Father.    Leaves  Macao,         . 
Voyage  up  the  Coast.    Changes,  . 
Monsoon.    Currents.    Sailors,      . 
Shanghai.     Woosung.    Chusan,   . 
Books  injured.    Tinghae, 

r»?« 
2g7 
288 
291 
293 
296 
298 

Chinese  Dinner.    Idol  Worship,  . 
Opium.    Festival  of  all  the  Gods, 
Suicide.    Proverbs.    Idols,  .       . 
Monks.    God  of  Thunder,     . 
Mrs.  Hepburn.    Love  of  Christ}  . 

303 
305 
308 
310 
313 

ttgt 

His  Father.   Written  and  Spoken  Language 

ofChina, 315 

His  Mother.    Psalm  xxx.  5,  .       .       .       .323 

His  Father.  Various  Thoughts,     ...  324 

Leaves  from  the  Note- Book,         .       .       .  325 

Tower  of  Ningpo.    Rice,        ....  328 

Visit  to  Teentung,  ......  330 

Visit  to  Pooto, 334 

Wedding.    Females.    Teacher,    .       .       .  341 

Society  of  Inquiry,  Princeton  Theol.  Sem.,  .  343 

His  Father.    Chinese  Ignorance,  .        .       .  348 

«            Chinese  Translations,      .       .  349 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

1846. 

MISSIONARY  LABORS  AT  NINGPO. — HEATHEN  CUSTOMS. — WORSHIP. — SUPERSTITIOUS 
FEARS. — PREACHING  IN  CHINESE. 


LETTERS  AND  JOURNALS. 


His  Mother.    Deaths.    New  Year,       .       .  352 

Plan  of  House,         ...  354 

Rev.  Levi  Janvier.    Writing  Letters,  .       .  356 

His  Father.    The  Millennium,      ...  357 

Rev.  D.  Wells.    Prayer,         ....  359 

Rev.  John  Lloyd.    Chinese  Tones,       .       .  359 

His  Father.    The  Heat.    Teachers,      .-       .  362 

His  Brother.    Superstitions,          ...  365 

His  Mother.  Changes, 366 

His  Father.     Shin.    Shang  te,      .       .       .366 

His  Mother.    Reminiscences,         .        .        .  367 

His  Father.  Chinese  Dictionary.,  .        .        .  369 
James  Lenox,  Esq.    Music.    Cuts.    Return 

of  Missionaries, 370 


His  Father.     Preaching.     Chinese  Books. 

Dictionary, 374 

Rev.  John  Lloyd.    Religion,  .  376 

Report  of  the  Ningpo  Mission,  .  379 

The  Use  of  Engravings,         .  .  386 

His  Brother.    The  Millennium,  .  388 

Journal.    Fear  of  Poisoning,  .  391 

Rains.    Drought.    Heat,        .  .  392 

Fear  of  Evil  Spirits,       .        .  395 

Earthquake.    Suspicions,      .  .  396 

Chinese  Preaching.    Cruelty,  .  399 

Marriage  Ceremony, 401 

Fruit  Pedler.    Chinese  Preaching,       .       .  403 

Chinese  Audience, 405 


CHAPTER  IX. 

1847. 

MISSIONARY  LABORS  AT  NINGPO. — VOYAGE  TO  SHANGHAI. — MANCHU  LANGUAGE. — 
CHINESE  TRANSLATION  OF  THE  BIBLE. — IMPORTANCE  OF  SELECTING  PROPER 
TERMS. 


LETTERS  AND  JOURNALS. 


His  Brother.    Chinese  Language,         .       .  40fJ 

His  Father.    Type.    Dictionary,   .        .        .  409 

Rev.  Levi  Janvier.    Trials.    Preaching,       .  410 

His  Mother.    Labors.    Loneliness,      .       .  412 
His  Father.    Books.    Millennium.    Shorter 

Catechism, 413 

On  the  Minutes  of  the  General  Assembly  of 

1846, 416 

His  Father.    Translation  of  the  Bible.    Na- 
tive Convert, 420 

His  Mother.    Heathen  Procession,       .       .  422 

Journal.    Preaching.    Incidents,  .        .        .  426 

The  Sabbath.    Changing  Audience,     .       .  428 


Chinese  Language.    Dogs,     .       . 

Various  Questions.    Inquirers, 

Worship  of  Ancestors,   .        .        . 

Voyage  to  Shanghai, 

Chiiihai.    Commerce.    Chapoo,    . 

Canal.    The  Sabbath.    Shanghai, 

His  Father.    Chapoo.    Dictionary, 

His  Mother.    Health,  '.        '.    440 

His  Brother.    On  the  proper  Translation  of 

the  word  God, 441 

Rev.  Joseph  Owen.  Same  subject,  .  .  443 
His  Father.  Manchu  Language,  .  .  .  443 
On  the  real  Trials  of  the  Foreign  Missionary,  445 


431 
432 
434 
435 
436 
437 
438 


Till 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  X. 


LETTERS  FROM  MISSIONARIES  AND  OTHERS,  ON  THE  DEATH  AHD  CHARACTER  OF 
THE  REV.  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Rev.  A.  W.  Loomls, 456 

Right  Rev.  W.  J.  Boone,  D.D.,      ...  458 

Resolutions  oftlie  Canton  Mission,       .        .  462 

Rev.  John  Lloyd, 463 

Rev.  T.  L.  McBryde, 465 

Rev.  Thomas  McClatchie,      ....  466 

Rev.  E.  W.  gyle, 467 

Rev.  Joseph  Owen, 469 

Rev.  John  Wray, 471 

Rev.  Levi  Janvier, 472 

Rev.  James  Wilson, 473 

Rev.  James  B.  Ramsey,         ....  475 
Rev.  R.  M.  Loughridge,        .       .       .        .475 

Rev.  John  Layton  Wilson,     ....  476 

Rev.  James  Read  Eckard,     .       .               .  477 
Ker.  John  O.  Procter,    ...               .478 


Rev.  John  M.  Lowrie, 479 

Rev.  Charles  Hodge,  D.D,  .  .  .  .481 
Rev.  Samuel  Miller,  D.D.,  ....  482 

Rev.  John  A.  Savage, 483 

Rev.  Joseph  H.  Jones,  D.D., .  .  .  .483 
Rev.  Wm.  S.  Plumer,  D.D.,  ....  484 
Joseph  P.  Engles,  Esq.,  ....  485 
Rev.  Wm.  M.  Atkinson,  DJX,  ...  486 
Rev.  W.  H.  Foote,  D.D.,  ....  487 
Rev.  Wm.  C.  Anderson,  D.D.,  ...  488 

Rev.  Loyal  Young, 488 

Rev.  John  N.  Campbell,  D.D.,      ...    489 

Mrs.  A.  H.  Richardson, 490 

Right  Rev.  George  Smith,  .  .  .  .491 
Sunday  Thoughts  of  a  Layman,  .  .  .  493 
Rev.  A.  Alexander,  D.D.,  ....  496 
Cenotaph, 501 


MEMOIR. 


CHAPTER  I 

1819—1837. 

EARLY  LIFE LETTERS  WHILE  IN  COLLEGE. 

WALTER  MACON  LOWRIE,  the  third  son  of  Walter  and  Amelia 
Lowrie,  was  born  in  Butler,  Penn.,  on  the  18th  of  February, 
1819.  Until  his  eighth  year,  his  father  was  absent  from  home 
during  the  winter  months.  This  left  the  principal  part  of  his 
early  training  and  education  to  his  excellent  mother,  and  well  and 
faithfully  did  she  perform  this  responsible  and  sacred  trust.  From 
his  infancy  he  possessed  a  mild  and  cheerful  temper.  He  was  a 
general  favorite  with  his  playmates,  and  always  ready  to  engage 
in  the  usual  sports  of  the  play-ground.  It  was  often  the  subject 
of  remark,  that  he  was  never  known  to  get  into  a  quarrel,  or  even 
an  angry  dispute  with  his  associates.  To  his  parents  he  was  al- 
ways obedient  and  kind,  open  and  ingenuous ;  he  was  never 
known  to  use  deception  or  falsehood.  His  brothers  and  sisters 
shared  his  warmest  affection  and  love,  and  his  time  with  them 
seemed  to  be  made  up  of  pure  enjoyment. 

At  an  early  period  he  was  sent  to  school,  where  he  learned  the 
usual  branches  of  a  common  English  education.  It  was  soon 
perceived  by  his  teachers,  that  it  required  but  little  effort  on  his 
part  to  get  the  lessons  assigned  to  him  ;  and  the  place  he  usually  oc- 
cupied was  at  the  head  of  the  class.  In  his  tenth  year  his  pa- 
rents removed  to  Washington  city,  and  for  a  part  of  the  year  he 
was  taught  by  his  father  in  the  higher  rules  of  arithmetic,  in 
geography,  and  ancient  and  modern  history.  In  his  eleventh  and 
twelfth  years,  he  spent  two  terms  under  an  able  teacher  in  a  clas- 
sical grammar  school. 

At  this  period  the  health  of  his  beloved  mother  was  gradually 
declining,  and  her  physicians  advised  that  she  should  spend  the 

1 


2  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

summers  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  winters  in  Washington.  In 
these  circumstances  it  was  deemed  best  that  Walter,  although  not 
fourteen  years  of  age,  should  be  sent  to  Jefferson  College.  Two 
of  his  brothers  had  already  graduated  at  that  college,  and  his  fa- 
ther was  well  acquainted  with  the  president  and  the  professors. 
A  home  was  found  for  him  in  the  family  of  the  Rev.  Professor 
Kennedy,  who  watched  over  him  with  a  parent's  care.  The  same 
month  in  which  he  reached  the  college,  in  November,  1832,  he  re- 
ceived the  sad  intelligence  of  his  dear  mother's  death.  Most 
deeply  did  he  feel  this  severe  bereavement,  and  bitterly  did  he 
mourn  over  the  loss  of  one  so  very  dear  to  him.  The  account  of 
her  calm  and  peaceful  departure,  full  of  faith  and  trust  in  her  Sa- 
viour, which  he  soon  afterwards  received,  whilst  it  made  a  deep 
impression  on  his  mind,  tended  much  to  relieve  the  bitterness  of 
his  grief.  After  spending  a  year  in  the  preparatory  department, 
he  entered  the  freshman  class  in  October,  1833,  and  continued  in 
the  college,  with  some  interruptions  for  relaxation,  till  he  gradua- 
ted in  September,  1837. 

In  the  summer  of  1834,  he  was  at  home  from  the  first  of  August 
till  the  last  of  October.  His  father  was  somewhat  apprehensive  in 
regard  to  his  health,  and  believed  that  some  relaxation  from  his  stu- 
dies would  be  of  service,  even  if  it  should  require  him  to  spend  ano- 
ther year  in  the  college.  He  retained  his  place  in  the  class,  how- 
ever, and  kept  up  with  the  usual  studies  without  difficulty.  The 
family  were  then  spending  the  summer  in  Butler.  Here  he  first  met 
with  his  second  mother,  and  he  seemed  almost  at  once  to  transfer 
to  her  the  affection  he  had  entertained  for  his  own  mother.  Nor 
was  this  a  transient  feeling.  His  affection  and  deep  respect  and 
esteem  for  her  continued  till  his  lamented  death,  as  the  letters 
and  journals  addressed  to  her  will  abundantly  show. 

During  this  visit  he  accompanied  his  parents  and  one  of  his 
brothers,  and  a  sister  in  declining  health,  to  the  falls  of  Niagara. 
He  greatly  enjoyed  the  company  of  his  friends  on  this  journey, 
and  was  filled  with  wonder  and  awe  at  the  stupendous  displays 
of  God's  power  in  this  mighty  cataract.  He  accompanied  the 
family  to  Washington,  and  was  present  at  the  calm  and  peaceful 
death  of  his  beloved  sister,  in  the  last  of  September,  1834.  In 
November  he  returned  to  the  college,  his  health  much  improved 
by  his  temporary  absence. 

Soon  after  his  return,  that  seminary  and  the  neighborhood  were 
blessed  with  a  precious  and  powerful  revival  of  religion.  Many 


LETTERS    WHILE    IN   COLLEGE.  3 

of  the  students  in  the  college,  and  large  numbers  in  the  congregations 
of  that  region,  were  added  to  the  church.  Most  of  these  students 
afterwards  entered  the  ministry.  The  history  of  this  revival  and 
its  subsequent  results,  if  they  were  written,  would  show  how  im- 
portant a  period  of  life  is  the  college  course  of  every  student. 
Probably  the  attention  and  the  prayers  of  the  church  have  been 
too  little  turned  towards  her  young  men  in  the  different  colleges. 
The  remark  will  be  generally  found  true,  that  "  as  is  the  piety  of 
the  student  in  college,  so  will  it  be  in  the  theological  seminary,  and 
in  the  ministry." 

In  this  revival,  after  a  time  of  deep  conviction  of  sin,  he  ob- 
tained a  hope  of  peace  with  God  in  the  Saviour.  He  was  then  in  his 
sixteenth  year,  and  his  letters  from  this  period  show  the  state  of 
his  mind,  as  he  became  more  and  more  instructed  in  Christian 
experience  and  warfare.  With  a  number  of  the  students  who 
were  admitted  to  full  communion  in  the  church  at  the  same  time, 
he  formed  a  most  endeared  and  lasting. friendship,  and  with  many 
of  these  he  kept  up  a  correspondence  till  his  death. 

Canonsburg,  December  31st,  1834. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER— 

I  would  have  written  to  you  yesterday  to  tell  you  my  state  of 
mind,  but  I  thought  I  had  best  wait  a  while,  to  see  whether  what 
I  wanted  to  tell  you  was  really  true.  I  can  now,  however,  as  I 
humbly  trust,  say  that  I  have  experienced  the  love  of  Christ  shed 
abroad  in  my  soul,  and  the  renewing  and  sanctifying  influences  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  I  have  not,  it  is  true,  those  high  exciting  joys 
that  many  others  speak  of,  nor  have  I  had  those  deep  and  pungent 
convictions  of  sin  that  others  have.  But  I  can  say,  that  though  I 
as  yet  see  but  little  of  Christ,  and  of  his  exceeding  love  to  me  in 
my  lost  and  ruined  condition,  yet  what  little  I  do  see,  fills  me  with 
love  and  peace,  and  an  earnest  desire  to  see  more  and  more  of 
Him,  and  to  lay  myself  down  and  give  up  my  soul  at  the  foot  of 
his  cross. 

How  this  feeling  originated  I  can  scarcely  tell.  On  Monday,  I 
was  deeply  impressed  with  the  necessity  of  being  assured  of  sal- 
vation that  day,  but  I  had  not  found  any  reason  to  believe  I  had 
obtained  it.  After  sermon  there  was  an  inquiry  meeting,  and  Mr. 
Deruelle  conversed  very  kindly  with  me ;  patiently  set  himself  to 
remove  any  doubts  and  difficulties,  and  told  me  that  all  I  had  to 
do  was  to  give  up  all  hopes  in  anything  that  I  could  do,  in  the  way 
of  prayers  or  resolutions,  and  just  trust  in  Christ.  He  spoke  so 
confidently  and  cheerfully,  that  I  thought  perhaps  I  might  be 
saved.  After  he  was  gone,  a  young  acquaintance,  also  under  se- 
rious impressions,  and  much  distressed,  came  and  entered  into  con- 


4  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

versation  with  me.  During  the  course  of  this  conversation,  which 
was  entirely  about  Christ  and  his  promises  to  atl  who  come  to 
him,  I  felt  my  heart  warming,  and  full  of  love  and  zeal  for  Christ. 
Shortly  after  a  hymn  was  given  out,  and  I  atterrpted  to  sing  it, 
but  my  heart  seemed  to  rush  up  to  my  mouth,  and  I  could  scarce 
refrain  from  laughing  out,  so  much  joy  did  I  feel.  This  feeling 
continued  till  the  next  morning,  and  I  felt  inexpressibly  happy ;  but 
about  eight  or  nine,  A.  M.,  I  felt  that  I  was  again  becoming  insensi- 
ble, and  I  was  greatly  perplexed,  and  knew  not  what  to  do.  This 
feeling  increased  until  about  two  P.  M.  There  was  to  be  a  meeting 
of  those  who  had  a  hope  of  salvation  that  evening,  and  I  felt  great 
doubt  as  to  the  propriety  of  attending.  I  mentioned  this  to  my 
room-mate,  who  is,  I  believe,  the  most  pious  student  about  the 
college,  and  he  made  a  few  remarks  and  prayed  with  me.  This 
relieved  me  somewhat,  and  I  attended  the  meeting. 

While  there  the  hymn  "  Alas !  and  did  my  Saviour  bleed,"  was 
sung,  and  I  felt  every  doubt  removed  and  very  joyful.  However, 
trusting  to  myself,  after  a  few  hours  I  felt  unhappy.  I  had  still 
the  hope,  but  had  no  joy  at  all,  and  seemed  to  myself  to  be  travel- 
ling in  a  path  I  knew  was  right,  with  just  sufficient  light  to  show 
that  it  was  not  the  wrong  path.  I  could  not  see  anything  at  all 
before  me.  In  this  condition  I  remained.  This  morning  I  had  a 
little  more  light,  and  now  I  can  see  a  little.  I  hope  and  trust  that 
the  light  will  increase  "  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day."  I 
feel  peaceful,  and  willing  to  commit  myself  to  my  Saviour,  to  do 
with  me  just  as  he  pleases.  I  desire  to  have  no  will  of  my  own, 
hut  to  depend  entirely  upon  him,  for  everything.  Still,  however,  I 
have  great  need  of  humility.  Pride  is  my  besetting  sin,  and  I 
fear  that  my  course  will  be  marked  with  many  rebellions,  and,mnch 
distress  on  account  of  this  sin.  It  has  grown  with  my  growth  and 
strengthened  with  my  strength,  and  will  no  doubt  be  employed 
by  Satan  to  bring  about  my  ruin.  May  God  keep  and  preserve 
me  from  it !  I  have  also  much  need  of  faith.  In  this  I  am  wo- 
fully  defective,  and  when  the  hour  of  trial  comes,  I  fear  much. 
It  is  my  earnest  prayer  that  I  may  have  more  faith  and  more  hu- 
mility. 

I  may  be  deceived  in  the  whole  matter,  and  if  I  should,  I  know 
not  what  shall  become  of  me  ;  but  it  is  my  earnest  prayer,  that  if 
so,  I  may  be  undeceived,  and  led  in  the  way  everlasting.  I  now, 
my  dear  father,  need  your  prayers  and  counsels  more  than  ever ; 
for  I  feel  greatly  my  need  of  some  experienced  Christian,  who 
knows  me  as  well  as  you  do,  to  direct  me. 

There  have  been  a  considerable  number  here,  who  hope  they 
have  experienced  a  change  of  heart :  how  many  I  cannot  say. 
As  yet,  we  cannot  speak  certainly  as  to  any  of  them ;  and  there 
is  great  need  of  prudence  in  speaking  and  writing  about  such 
things,  so  as  to  avoid  bringing  disgrace  upon  the  holy  religion  of 
Jesus.  That  the  Spirit  of  God  is  here,  every  one  will  admit ;  but 
the  result  is  known  only  to  the  searcher  of  the  hearts,  and  trier  of 


LETTERS    WHILE    IN   COLLEGE.  5 

the  reins  of  the  children  of  men.  We  would  hope  and  pray  that 
these  "mercy  drops"  may  be  succeeded  by  a  great  shower,  and 
that  the  influence  of  this  may  extend  to  all  parts,  not  only  of  the 
Synod  of  Pittsburg,  but  of  our  country  ;  and  that  its  influence 
may  be  felt  to  the  remotest  corners  of  the  earth.  There  is  noth- 
ing too  hard  for  the  Lord,  and  we  may  reasonably  expect  that,  by 
prayer  and  faith,  every  student  of  this  college  may  become  a  ser- 
vant of  Christ.  We  are  told  to  ask  and  it  shall  be  given,  seek 
and  we  shall  find,  and  that  if  we  "  open  our  mouths  wide,"  the 
Lord  will  "fill  them."  O  father,  pray  for  this  college. 

It  is,  of  course,  too  soon  for  me  to  think  as  yet  of  my  future 
profession  ;  but  this  will,  if  it  be  true,  make  a  great   difference 
in  my  choice.     There  is  a  great  deal   in  deciding  quickly  and 
soon,  and  then  making  everything  tend  to  that  one  object. 
I  remain  your  affectionate  son  in  the  Lord, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Canonsburg,  January  6th,  1835. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

I  received  your  kind  letter  of  Dec.  31st,  yesterday,  and  can  truly 
say  that  I  never  perused  a  letter  with  greater  pleasure  than  that 
one,  both  on  account  of  its  intrinsic  excellence,  and  also  because  it 
afforded  me  the  strongest  proof  that  you  cared  as  much  and 
more  for  my  soul  than  for  my  body.  You  will  have  heard  be- 
fore now  that  I  have  been  enabled  to  give  myself  to  the  blessed 
Jesus.  Nor  have  I  repented  of  the  choice.  I  can  truly  say  that 
during  the  past  week,  I  have  felt  a  greater  amount  of  real,  calm 
peace  and  joy,  than  I  ever  felt  in  all  my  life.  It  is  true,  I  am  not 
without  doubts  and  fears,  and  I  have  several  times  been  inclined 
to  doubt,  whether  I  ever  did  experience  a  saving  change  of  heart. 
But,  having  carefully,  and  I  trust  prayerfully,  applied  every  test  in 
my  power  to  examine  the  sincerity  of  my  heart,  I  am  enabled  to 
say,  though  still  with  "  fear  and  trembling,"  that  "  Jesus  is  mine 
and  I  am  his."  My  particular  views  of  Christ,  though  very  in- 
complete, are  that  He  is  one  "  altogether  lovely ;"  a  "  Lamb  with- 
out spot  or  blemish ;"  that  he  is  holy,  just,  and  good,  beyond  all 
ideas  which  mortals  can  form  of  those  attributes.  My  views  of 
God,  the  Father,  are,  that  he  is  one  who  dwells  in  "light  inac- 
cessible, and  full  of  glory ;"  who  while  he  looks  with  hatred  upon 
sin,  is  nevertheless,  by  the  intercession  of  the  blessed  Saviour  and 
his  death  on  the  cross,  perfectly  willing  to  love  and  protect  all  who 
coine  to  him  by  his  son.  Of  God,  the  Holy  Ghost,  I  have  so  in- 
definite an  idea  that  I  cannot  express  it ;  it  is  like  "  the  wind  that 
bloweth,  and  we  hear  the  sound  thereof,  and  cannot  tell  whence 
it  cometh  or  whither  it  goeth." 

As  you  may,  perhaps,  wish  to  hear  some  accounts  of  the  rise 
and  progress  of  this  revival,  I  give  this  short  account  of  it.  On 
last  Thursday,  two  weeks  ago,  which  was  a  fast  day  for  the  Synod 


6  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

of  Pittsburg,  there  was  preaching,  and  one  or  two  were  awakened. 
There  was  preaching  also  on  Saturday,  but  still  it  was  not  known 
to  many  that  anything  was  going  on.  Sabbath  was  sacrament 
day.  On  Sabbath  night,  Mr.  Deruelle  delivered  a  most  eloquent 
and  powerful  sermon.  I  paid  very  little  attention  to  it  at  the  time, 
and  do  not  now  remember  the  text ;  but  he  described  in  a  very 
forcible  manner,  the  joys  of  heaven  and  the  terrors  of  hell.  This 
awakened  some ;  and  I  believe  that  it  was  a  •  remark  made  to  me 
the  next  day,  that  it  was  a  sermon  calculated  to  excite  thought  at 
least,  that  made  me  think  about  it.  On  Monday  there  was  preach- 
ing, and  those  who  were  anxious  were  requested  to  stay  for  con- 
versation. I  was  anxious  to  do  so,  but  was  ashamed  and  did  not ; 
there  were,  however,  some  who  did.  Encouraged  by  this  and  by 
the  number  who  attended,  Dr.  Brown  determined  to  have  a  pro- 
tracted meeting.  The  number  of  anxious  inquirers  increased  at 
every  meeting,  but  for  two  or  three  or  more  days,  there  were  but 
one  or  two  hopeful  conversions.  This  was  mentioned,  and  Chris- 
tians were  invited  to  pray  for  converting  grace.  In  about  four 
days  there  were  one  or  two  of  the  students  who  were  awakened, 
and  had  yielded  themselves  to  Christ.  Of  the  citizens  there  are 
yet,  I  believe,  but  a  small  proportion,  about  one  third,  who  have 
obtained  a  hope.  Some  have  gone  back  to  the  world,  others  are 
wavering,  and  until  lately  the  work  seemed  to  decline.  Now  it  is 
a  little  on  the  increase,  but  not  as  much  as  could  be  wished. 
There  are,  I  suppose,  at  least  thirty  of  the  students  who  have  ob- 
tained a  hope  in  Christ,  probably  twelve  or  fifteen  who  have  gone 
back,  and  about  ten  who  are  yet  lingering.  Of  the  citizens,  prob- 
ably twenty  have  obtained  a  hope,  and  there  are  as  many  as  thirty 
or  forty  who  are  yet  in  suspense.  This  night  will  probably  be  the 
last  of  these  meetings.  Mr.  Deruelle,  who  has  labored  faithfully, 
and  under  God  with  much  success  here,  is  going  away.  There 
have  been  no  other  methods  of  proceeding  adopted  than  preaching 
and  conversation ;  but  these  have  been  blessed  by  the  Holy  Spirit. 

None  can  make  objections  of  any  force,  because  there  were 
no  improper  means  used,  and  the  old  version  of  the  Psalms  was 
used  at  the  meetings.  Every  one  confesses  that  the  work  is  of 
God  and  not  of  man ;  and  if  not  wofully  deceived,  many  souls 
will  to  all  eternity  bless  God  for  this  revival.  I  shall  finish  this 
letter  after  the  meeting  this  evening. 

January  7th.     I  was  prevented  from  finishing  this  last  night,  by 
the  lateness  of  the  hour  when  meeting  was  over.     It  is  not  the 
intention  now  of  Dr.  Brown  to  discontinue  these  meetings ;  there 
will  be  preaching  to-night  as  usual,  and  for  some  time  yet. 
I  am  your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


LETTERS    WHILE    IN   COLLEGE. 


Canonsburg,  March  9th,  1835. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

As  Congress  has  now  adjourned,  I  suppose  you  will  have  more 
time  for  writing  than  you  have  heretofore  had.  Since  I  wrote 
last,  I  have  enjoyed  my  usual  health.  Yesterday  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per was  celebrated  here.  There  were  fifty-eight  who  joined  the 
church  here ;  thirty-seven  students  and  twenty-one  citizens.  It 
was  a  pleasant  day  to  me,  though  I  had  not  as  pleasant  a  time 
as  I  sometimes  have,  owing  I  suppose  to  my  ignorance  of  the 
nature  of  the  ordinance,  or  rather  to  my  too  selfish  feelings. — 
When  I  look  back  ten  weeks,  and  contrast  my  present  condition 
with  what  it  was  then,  I  feel  a  strange  sensation  of  wonder.  To 
think  that  a  change  so  great,  (for  I  feel  it  to  be  a  great  change, 
and  I  hope  it  is  genuine,)  should  be  effected  in  so  comparatively 
short  a  time,  is  strange.  One  of  those  who  joined  at  the  same 

time,  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Mr. ,  was  only  ten  years  old. 

Her  religious  experience,  however,  was  very  satisfactory  to  the 
Session.  Whether  there  will  be  any  more  outpouring  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  here,  I  cannot  tell.  I  hope  and  endeavor  to  pray  that  there 
may  be,  but  it  seems  as  if  we  were  all  like  rocks :  at  least,  I  feel 
myself  to  be  so.  A  hard  heart,  I  think,  is  one  of  the  most  un- 
pleasant things  that  a  Christian  has  to  deal  with  on  earth.  The 
150th  hymn  in  the  Assembly's  Collection,  exactly  describes  the 
feelings  which  I  frequently  have  on  this  subject. 
I  remain  your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Canonsburg,  August  5th,  1835. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

You  may  remember  the  first  letter  you  wrote  to  me  after  the 
29th  December ;  I  have  not  got  it  by  me,  but  I  can  remember  the 
substance  of  it.  You  warned  me  in  it  to  beware  of  falling  away 
from  my  "  first  love."  At  that  time  I  wondered  why  you  should 
send  me  such  a  warning.  I  thought  there  was  no  danger,  and 
that  it  would  be  impossible  for  me  ever  to  leave  that  Saviour,  who 
had  so  kindly  opened  my  eyes.  Yet  even  in  this  short  time,  has 
that  case  been  my  own.  I  have  fallen  away,  and  acted  very  much 
indeed  as  if  I  had  never  experienced  a  hope  of  Christ's  love  to  me. 
I  left  my  first  love,  and  for  about  two  months  preceding  and  after 
my  visit  home,  I  had  no  enjoyment  in  religion.  I  had  not  fallen 
so  far  as  to  silence  the  voice  of  conscience,  or  as  not  to  know  that 
I  had  in  some  measure  fallen.  Such  was  my  case  when  at  home. 
True,  there  were  times,  even  then,  when  I  had  as  much  freedom 
in  prayer  as  ever ;  and  the  day  of  the  sacrament  I  had  as  much 
pleasure  in  religion  as  I  have  had  this  session. 

I  have  now  the  hope  that  I  am  restored.  I  now  feel,  in  some 
respects,  as  I  did  when  first  the  light  of  truth  shone  in  upon  my 


8  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

soul,  and  I  have  a  more  heart-affecting  view  of  myself.  Rejoice 
with  me,  my  mother,  that  God  has  not  cast  me  off  from  him  for- 
ever, as  I  justly  deserved,  and  as  would  have  been  perfectly  con- 
sistent with  his  glory,  mercy,  and  justice.  How  I  was  restored  I 
can  hardly  tell.  For  two  weeks  past,  I  have  felt  very  differently 
from  what  I  did  all  session,  and  yesterday  and  to-day  I  feel  some, 
though,  alas  !  very  little,  of  the  joy  of  him  whose  sin  is  pardoned 
by  his  God.  O  for  a  tongue  to  speak  my  Redeemer's  praise,  and 
to  proclaim  to  the  world  what  he  has  done  for  my  soul !  Surely, 
O  surely,  such  love  was  never  manifested  as  the  love  of  Christ ! 
Why  is  it  that  we  cannot  love  him  more,  and  love  him  always  ? 
And  yet  I  am  very  much  afraid  I  shall  not  long  continue  in  this 
state.  I  am  afraid  I  shall  fall,  and  yet  bring  open  disgrace  upon 
my  profession.  Pray  for  me,  my  dear  parents,  and  give  your 
counsels. 

Yours  affectionately, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Jefferson  College,  August  10th,  1835. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

I  wrote  to  mother  and  brother  Matthew,  a  short  time  ago, 
yet  as  I  have  something  in  regard  to  which  I  would  wish  to  ask 
your  advice,  and  as,  probably,  you  are  now  as  much  at  leisure  as 
you  will  be  before  next  summer,  I  have  concluded  to  write  to  you. 
I  do  not  know  whether  I  have  ever  before  mentioned  this  subject 
to  you,  but  it  is  one  which  has  often  employed  my  thoughts,  and 
of  late  particularly — it  is  this  :  Whether  it  is  my  duty  to  be  a 
minister  of  the  gospel?  My  principal  reason  for  now  writing  to 
you  is,  to  ask  your  advice  in  regard  to  this  one  point,  viz.,  whether 
I  should  enter  on  the  examination  of  this  subject,  with  the  view 
of  coming  to  a  definite  conclusion  this  session,  or,  at  farthest,  be- 
fore the  close  of  the  year ;  or  whether  I  should  put  off  the  imme- 
diate examination  of  the  point  till  a  future  period. 

Each  of  these  may  have  its  advantages.  The  principal  reasons 
why  I  should  now  come  to  a  determination  are  these  :  1st.  What- 
ever profession  I  may  choose,  if  I  now  decide  concerning  it,  I  may 
lay  my  mind  more  ardently  to  being  prepared  for  it  and  for  use- 
fulness :  I  may  the  more  readily  make  all  my  other  pursuits  sub- 
servient to  this.  This  I  consider  a  principal  reason.  2nd.  A 
reason,  flowing  from  the  first,  why  I  now  should  determine,  is, 
that,  if  I  should  decide  to  be  a  minister,  it  may  conduce  to  personal 
piety  and  a  closer  walk  with  God.  These  are  two  of  the  principal 
reasons  why  I  should  now  determine. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  may  be  objected — 1st.  My  youth  :  my 
judgment  is  not  capable  of  deciding  so  important  a  question.  2nd. 
My  inexperience  of  my  own  self  and  of  others,  and  of  the  duties 
required  of  me  in  that  high  station  to  which  I  aspire.  3rd.  The 
fickleness  of  my  temper ;  and  4th.  Circumstances  may  occur 


LETTERS    WHILE    IN    COLLEGE.  9 

which  will  render  it  obligatory  on  me  to  change  my  views.  I  do 
not  consider  the  last  much  of  an  objection,  and  I  can,  I  think,  get 
over  the  others ;  but  I  should  like  your  advice  on  this  all-impor- 
tant subject.  I  may  here  mention  a  couple  of  plans  which  have 
principally  occupied  my  thoughts  on  this  subject.  The  first  was 
— to  study  for  the  ministry,  and,  after  being  licensed,  to  go  and 
spend  my  life  in  the  Western  States  ;  neither  in  the  character  of  a 
settled  pastor,  nor  yet  in  that  of  an  itinerant  preacher,  but  some- 
where between  them.  The  other,  and  one  which  has  almost  en- 
tirely taken  up  my  mind,  is  this :  after  I  graduate,  to  go  and 
study  medicine  ;  then  go  to  the  Theological  Seminary  and  prepare 
myself  for  the  ministry  ;  and  then,  if  in  the  Providence  of  God  it 
may  appear  my  duty,  "  Go  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  the  heathen." 
Both  of  these  may  be  mere  romantic  creations  of  the  fancy,  but,  at 
present,  my  inclination  is  rather  in  favor  of  the  latter.  I  may,  in 
a  future  letter,  state  more  as  to  my  views  on  this  subject,  but,  at 
present,  I  would  like  your  advice  as  to  the  first  point  mentioned. 

I  regard  myself  just  in  this  light :  I  profess  to  be,  and  hope  I 
am,  a  servant  of  Christ.  The  command  is,  "  Go  work  in  my 
vineyard."  After  having  decided,  how  I  shall  work  ? — whether 
as  a  minister  or  otherwise — the  next  question  will  be,  where  ? 

I  do  not  consider,  that  in  answering  this  question,  I  have  a  right 
to  consult  my  own  convenience.  May  you,  my  dear  father,  be 
abundantly  blessed  with  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  find 
all  your  children  walking  in  your  footsteps,  and  may  we  all  at 
last  meet  around  the  throne  of  God,  on  his  right  hand. 

Affectionately  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Jefferson  College,  August  31st,  1835. 
DEAR  FATHER — 

I  have  delayed  answering  your  last  somewhat  longer  than 
usual,  but  I  suppose  you  know  the  reason.  I  have  been  engaged 
in  the  examination  of  the  subject  of  the  gospel  ministry,  and  have 
at  length  been  enabled  to  decide,  at  least  from  present  views  and 
feelings,  and  with  prayer,  that  it  is  my  duty  to  devote  myself  to 
the  service  of  God  in  that  manner.  I  cannot  say  that  I  have  had 
many  or  great  difficulties,  nor  indeed  have  I  that  assurance  I  could 
wish  to  have ;  but  I  hope,  as  my  experience  increases,  that  my 
confidence  as  to  my  duty  will  increase  in  proportion.  I  may  be 
deceived,  but,  as  far  as  I  know  myself,  I  am  not  actuated  by  un- 
worthy motives.  I  wish  I  could  as  certainly  say,  that  I  am  influ- 
enced by  a  desire  for  the  glory  of  God  ;  for  it  is  on  that  point  that 
I  have,  and  do  yet  experience,  the  greatest  difficulty.  In  other 
respects,  I  hope  I  can  with  some  confidence  say,  that,  as  far  as  I 
know  myself,  I  am  not  influenced  by  wrong  motives.  May  God 
grant  me  to  know  and  do  my  duty. 

Your  affectionate  son,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


10  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

Hii 

Jefferson  College,  September  8th,  1835. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER, — 

I  am  very  sorry  you  cannot  make  it  convenient  to  remain  in 
Butler  a  few  weeks  longer,  as  I  should  very  much  wish  your 
company.  It  may  be  all  fancy,  but  something  seems  to  be  con- 
stantly telling  me,  when  I  think  of  you  all,  "  that  [  must  endeavor 
to  spend  as  much  time  with  you  as  I  can  now,  for  after  I  am  set- 
tled in  life,  I  shall  have  very  few  opportunities  of  being  with  you." 
And  this  idea  has  taken  almost  complete  possession  of  my  mind. 
I  do  not,  when  I  look  forward,  anticipate  much  temporal  pleasure, 
or  ease ;  and  perhaps  it  is  as  well  that  I  should  learn  to  deny 
myself  now  as  at  any  time  ;  but  still  I  find  an  unwillingness  to 
separate  from  my  thoughts  the  idea  of  totally  denying  myself 
your  company.  However,  I  hope,  that  if  it  ever  should  be  incum- 
bent on  me,  I  shall  never  hesitate  to  leave  even  father  and  mother, 
and  all  to  whom  I  am  bound  by  the  ties  of  nature.  I  hope  you 
are  all  in  good  health  of  body — would  that  I  had  the  same  hope  in 
regard  to  matters  of  more  importance  !  But  when  I  think  that  some 
of  our  dear  family  are  still  in  the  "gall  of  bitterness  and  the  strong 
chains  of  iniquity,"  I  cannot  hope  so.  I  can  do  nothing  but  pray, 
and  in  my  condition,  I  am  more  fit  to  have  prayers  offered  for 
myself,  than  to  offer  them  for  others.  Next  Sabbath  is  the  day 
of  the  communion  :  how  I  should  like,  were  it  possible,  to  sit 
down  and  commemorate  our  Saviour's  love  with  my  dear  parents, 
— but  I  suppose  it  may  not  be. 

I  remain  your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Jefferson  College,  September  14th. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

Yesterday  was  our  communion  here ;  and  though  it  w,as  so 
near  to  the  end  of  the  session,  that  we  could  not  have  much  time 
for  preparation,  and  no  fast  day  was  appointed,  yet  it  was  about 
as  profitable  a  day  as  I  ever  spent.  True,  at  the  table,  and  whilst 
partaking  of  the  elements,  I  was  not  happy  ;  nay,  before  I  rose 
from  the  table,  I  was  almost  as  miserable  as  I  ever  was.  Yet  it 
was  profitable.  A  temptation  came  across  my  rnind  to  this  effect : 
"  I  am  not  now  enjoying  communion  with  Jesus  Christ ;  and 
therefore  I  am  not  a  Christian.  I  may  as  well  now  give  up  all 
pretensions  to  religion,  and  quit  acting  the  hypocrite  any  longer." 
And  although  not  willingly,  I  felt  as  if  I  ought  to  do  so  ;  but  the 
thought  rushed  into  my  mind,  "  If  I  am  so  miserable  under  the 
hidings  of  God's  face  only,  how  shall  I  bear  his  eternal  wrath  ?" 
It  was  the  first  time  I  had  ever  been  influenced  more  by  fear  than 
by  other  motives.  I  was  miserable,  however.  But  see  the  good- 
ness of  God  and  of  Jesus  Christ.  After  church,  I  was  think- 
ing of  my  conduct  during  the  session,  and  meditating  on  the 


LETTERS    WHILE    AT    COLLEGE.  11 

two  verses,  "  Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God ;"  and  all  my 
anxious  cares  vanished.  I  had  been  impressed  deeply  with  a 
sense  of  my  sinfulness,  and  was  wishing  to  make  some  resolu- 
tions hereafter  to  live  more  to  the  glory  of  God,  but  felt  almost 
afraid  to  do  it.  I  knew  I  should  fall  away ;  and  I  felt  that  it 
would  but  aggravate  my  guilt,  were  I  to  sin  against  such  renewed 
obligation.  But  the  sentence,  "  Sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the  evil 
thereof,"  calmed  my  heart.  I  felt  that  it  was  my  duty  to  follow 
present  duty,  and  leave  the  future  to  God,  without  any  anxious 
cares  ;  and  I  was  enabled  to  do  so,  and  to  roll  all  my  cares  upon 
the  Lord.  Oh,  the  peace  I  at  that  moment  possessed  !  I  could 
scarce  refrain  from  laughing,  I  was  so  joyful. 

I  determined  then  to  live  every  day  as  if  it  were  to  be  the  last 
I  should  have  to  live,  and  to  do  my  duty  accordingly  ; — in  reality, 
"  to  live  by  the  day."  At  secret  prayer  I  was  more  full  of  God's 
presence,  and  comprehended  more  of  that  view  of  Christ's  charac- 
ter, which  is  so  great,  grand,  and  incomprehensible,  that  I  could 
scarcely  proceed  for  joy  ;  and  from  my  own  experience  during  the 
day,  I  could  tell  something  of  the  difference  between  God's  pres- 
ence and  his  absence.  To-day,  I  cannot  say  I  feel,  or  have  felt, 
as  I  could  wish — not  so  much  life  and  animation  ;  but  I  have 
been  enabled  to  mourn  for  it.  During  the  sermon  (Mark  xvi.  15), 
I  was  enabled  to  see  more  of  the  greatness  of  the  Christian  religion 
than  I  ever  did  before,  and  to  feel,  too,  that  man  could  not  be  the 
author  of  such  grand  ideas  as  I  saw  there  held  out. 

This  evening  I  was  walking  out  into  the  country  for  exercise, 
and  on  my  return  I  passed  the  cottage  of  a  negro  woman,  com- 
monly called  "  Old  Katy."  She  was  out  in  the  road,  when  I  passed 
her.  I  shook  hands  with  her,  and  spoke  a  few  words  to  her.  Be- 
fore we  had  spoken  three  sentences,  she  was  talking  about  religion. 
She  is  a  most  eminent  Christian,  and  we  stood  about  ten  or  fifteen 
minutes  there  talking.  She  soon  got  to  speaking  about  the  mis- 
sionary cause.  Her  heart  was  in  the  matter,  and  she  said,  "  I  am 
very  poor,  but  as  long  as  I  live  I  will  be  something  to  it.  I  have 
often  given  a  little  to  it,  and  I  never  laid  out  any  money  better. 
I  could  not  do  it.  I  never  lost  a  cent  by  it." 

I  wish  I  could  give  you  some  idea  of  the  emphasis  she  used,  but 
pen  and  ink  cannot  express  her  manner  and  the  feeling  she  mani- 
fested. She  very  cordially  asked  me  to  call  in  and  see  her;  "for 
it  is  food  to  me  when  any  of  God's  children  come  to  see  me ;  it  is 
food."  She  went  on  thus  for  some  time,  talking  about  various 
matters,  but  all  of  them  religious.  Oh  !  how  little  I  felt  when  I 
heard  her  talk  thus,  and  compared  my  attainments  in  the  Chris- 
tian course  with  hers. 

18th.  I  received  your  kind  letter  yesterday,  for  which  I  am 
very  much  obliged  to  you.  I  would  go  to  Pittsburg  to  see  you, 
but  they  are  not  done  examining  our  class,  and  I  do  not  wish  to  be 
absent  from  here  on  Sunday.  The  examination  commenced  yes- 
terday, and  they  got  over  one  half  of  the  class,  myself  among 


12  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

them.     The  Greek  still  remains  to  try  our  metal,  but  I  cannot  say 
I  am  afraid  of  that ;  and  if  such  things  as  these  were  to  be  my 
only  difficulties,  I  should  not  think  life  very  burdensome. 
I  remain  your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Jefferson  College,  November  22d,  1835. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

You  may  recollect  in  reading  the  life  of  Payson,  a  sentence  like 
this:  "Whenever  I  write  to  you,  more  than  forty  ideas  jump  at 
once,  all  equally  eager  to  get  out,  and  jostle  and  incommode  each 
other  at  such  a  rate,  that  not  the  most  proper,  but  the  strongest, 
escapes  first."  I  find  something  like  this  at  present  in  my  head, 
for  I  hardly  know  where  to  begin.  However,  on  last  Saturday 
night  there  were  four  of  us  students,  who  met  in  our  room,  to  have 
a  little  prayer-meeting :  we  had  all,  I  think,  a  great  deal  of  free- 
dom in  prayer  for  a  revival,  and  after  our  meeting  was  over,  we 
sung  two  or  three  hymns  together.  It  was  as  pleasant  a  meeting 
as  I  have  attended  in  a  long  time.  One  of  the  hymns  was  that 
most  expressive  one,  "  Alas  !  and  did  my  Saviour  bleed,"  and  I  am 
sure  there  was  a  good  deal  of  feeling  manifested  among  us. 

Yesterday  Mr.  E.,  an  agent  of  the  American  Board  of  Missions, 
preached  a  sermon  in  the  forenoon  with  which  I  was  highly 
pleased,  on  the  text  "  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive." 
At  night  he  preached  again  ;  subject,  the  debt  we  owe  the  heathen. 
He  proved  in  it,  that  we  owe  a  debt  to  the  heathen  that  we  are  able 
to  pay  ;  that  the  time  had  come ;  and  concluded  with  a  number  of 
most  thrilling,  interesting  facts.  The  sermon  was  an  hour  and  a 
half  long ;  the  longest  I  have  ever  heard,  but  it  seemed  the  short- 
est. He  spoke  of  the  providences  of  God  with  regard  to  Missions, 
and  said,  that  had  Lyman  and  Munson  lived  to  fill  up  their  three- 
score years  and  ten,  and  toiled  and  labored,  wrote  and  translated, 
and  been  as  successful  as  any  of  our  present  missionaries,  they 
would  not,  in  all  human  probability,  have  been  as  useful  by  one 
half,  as  they  have  been  just  by  their  death.  They  have  excited 
more  interest,  more  prayers,  more  contributions,  and  brought  for- 
ward more  young  men  to  fill  their  places,  than  they  could  have 
done,  had  their  life  been  prolonged.  The  Board  have  already  sev- 
eral missionaries  who  are  going  to  take  their  places,  and  the  inter- 
est in  that  mission  is  ten  times  as  great  as  it  ever  was.  Is  not 
that  gratifying?  About  the  close  he  related  an  anecdote,  which  I 
hardly  dare  attempt  to  repeat,  but  I  will  try.  "  Some  years  ago 
I  was  out  on  a  tour  for  collecting  money  for  the  Society,  and  I 
stopped  over  Sunday  at  a  town,  and  preached  there.  I  gave  no- 
tice that  on  the  morrow,  I  would  go  around  and  receive  their  con- 
tributions. Accordingly,  in  company  with  the  minister,  I  did  so. 
We  came  to  a  house,  or  cabin  rather,  and  he  said,  '  We  must  go  in 
here ;  we  shah1  receive  no  donation,  but  there  is  a  '  Mother  in  Israel' 


LETTERS    WHILE    AT    COLLEGE.  13 

here.'  We  went  in  and  found  an  old  woman  over  seventy,  bent 
nearly  double  by  age,  and  troubled  with  all  its  infirmities,  and  hei 
daughter,  who  was  helpless.  The  old  woman  supported  het 
daughter  and  herself  by  spinning  flax.  As  soon  as  she  saw  us 
she  said,  l  I  am  glad  you  have  come.  I  was  afraid  you  would  not, 
and  last  night  I  lay  awake  and  prayed  that  God  would  send  you, 
and  now  you  are  here.  I  got  up  early  this  morning  and  went  to 
a  neighbor  who  has  a  gentle  horse,  which  he  lends  me  whenever 
I  want  it ;  and  then  1  went  to  another  man  who  owed  me  six 
shillings  for  spinning  flax,  which  he  paid  me  :  now  I  want  to  give 
it  to  the  Missionary  Society,  here  it  is,'  handing  it  to  me.  I  told 
her  we  did  not  expect  any  money  from  her ;  we  had  not  come  to 
her  house  for  that  purpose.  She  insisted.  I  took  the  subscription 
paper,  wrote  her  name,  and  opposite  to  it  six  shillings,  and  show- 
ing it  to  her  said,  See,  here  is  your  name,  we  will  pay  this  money, 
and  no  one  shall  ever  know  you  did  not  give  it  yourself,  and  you 
can  keep  your  money.  I  thought  she  needed  it  too  much  to  give 
it.  She  looked  at  me,  the  big  tears  rolling  down  her  cheeks,  and 
said,  '  What  have  I  done,  that  you  won't  let  me  give  this  money  ; 
I  have  prayed  for  forty  years  for  the  heathen,  and  yesterday  you 
told  us  the  time  had  come,  when  we  might  give  as  well  as  pray, 
and  I  was  glad  of  it ;  now  you  won't  let  me  give  this  money — it  is 
very  hard.'  Great  grief  was  visible  in  her  countenance" — and 
Mr.  E.,  heartily  ashamed  of  himself,  took  the  money.  Was  not 
that  most  beautiful  ?  I  was  near  bursting  into  tears.  Shortly  after 
I  spoke  to  one  who  had  been  at  our  prayer-meeting,  and  he  was  in 
extacies.  "  Oh  Lowrie,  is  not  that  delightful  ?  What  a  blessed 
Sabbath  !  Our  little  prayer-meeting  !"  If  I  ever  desired  to  be  a 
minister  and  a  missionary,  I  did  last  night.  Such  a  glorious  ob- 
ject !  so  wrorthy  all  the  talents,  feelings,  and  affections  of  every 
reasonable  creature,  that  it  seems  impossible,  almost,  not  to  desire 
it.  However,  though  it  may  be  the  duty  of  others  to  decide  this 
matter  while  at  college,  I  hardly  think  it  can  be  mine,  at  least  for 
a  year  to  come. 

We  have  between  seventy  and  eighty  new  students,  the  largest 
number  received  in  one  session  since  1831,  when  the  new  college 
was  built,  and  perhaps,  excepting  that  time,  the  largest  number 
ever  received.  Altogether  we  have  near  two  hundred  and  fifty  stu- 
dents. Were  the  Spirit  of  God  poured  out  here,  what  would  be 
the  consequences  !  We  have  a  great  deal  of  studying  to  do.  I 
am  trying  to  "  Parlez  vous"  some,  and  hope  to  be  able  to  speak 
with  some  fluency  before  the  winter  is  over.  *  * 

Yours  affectionately,         .     W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Canonsbufg,  December  26th,  1835. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

In  looking  over  the  various  relations  which  others  sustain  to 
me,  or  which  I  sustain  to  them,  I  see  very  little  which  does  not 


14  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

call  for  sincere,  hearty  gratitude.  To  have  so  many  friends,  my- 
self to  enjoy  so  many  privileges  and  mercies,  of  which  others 
stand  in  so  much  need,  while  I  am  but  too  insensible  to  their 
value,  and  to  have  so  many  opportunities  of  improving  myself  and 
of  preparing  for  future  usefulness, — these  things,  combined  with 
others,  which  are  so  many  I  cannot  number  them,  give  me  abun- 
dant cause  for  gratitude  and  praise. 

Dec.  29.  This  is  my  birth-day.  It  is  just  one  year  since  first 
I  experienced  the  hope  of  salvation,  and  now  I  see  before  me  the 
whole  scene,  and  the  fulness  of  my  heart  rises  within  me.  I  have 
just  been  thinking  of  my  conduct  the  past  year.  Whilst  I  see 
many  things  to  be  thankful  for,  and  to  encourage  me,  I  also  see 
much  to  grieve  and  humble  me.  The  hasty  flight  of  time  only 
brings  us  nearer  an  eternal  home,  where  "  sorrow  and  sighing 
flee  away."  I  am  more  and  more  anxious  to  pay  you  a  visit  in 
the  spring,  and  expect  to  enjoy  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  from  it. 
If  we  anticipate  so  much  pleasure  from  joys  that  are  but  finite, 
what  will  the  joys  of  heaven  be?  An  infinity  of  everything  that 
is  good  ! 

Jan.  2d,  1836.  Taking  a  walk  this  afternoon,  I  came  near  a 
grave-yard,  and  went  into  it.  Some  of  the  tenants  were  dead 
more  than  eighty  years,  some  under  one  year.  Some  of  the  tomb- 
stones bore  marks  of  many  years'  exposure ;  others  were  as  fresh 
as  if  yesterday  they  had  been  placed  there.  All  was  calm  and 
silent.  The  world  flees  from  such  scenes.  Many  of  the  tomb- 
stones spoke  of  the  joys  of  heaven,  of  the  resurrection,  and  of  Christ, 
and  their  rude  poetry  only  made  them  the  more  striking.  I  love 
a  grave-yard.  I  love  to  walk  among  these  signs  of  death,  and 
muse  on  death  itself.  I  may  be  deceived,  but  to  me  death  has 
few  terrors,  and  though  nature  may  shrink  from  the  last  fatal 
struggle,  yet  I  think  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  <;  I  know  that  my 
Redeemer  liveth  . . .  and  though  worms  destroy  this  body,  yet  in 
my  flesh  shall  I  see  God." 

"  The  knell,  the  shroud,  the  mattock,  and  the  grave, 
The  deep  damp  vault,  the  darkness,  and  the  worm — 
These  are  the  terrors  of  the  living,  not  the  dead." 

Jan.  4.  I  have  just  seen  a  letter  from  my  dear  brother  John. 
His  health  has  failed,  and  he  is  obliged  to  leave  India.  How  sad 
that  he  has  to  leave  his  station,  and  all  his  prospects  of  usefulness 
in  that  region.  Although  I  long  to  see  him,  I  could  wish  he  may 
be  able  to  remain.  But  God  has  good  reasons  for  what  appears 
to  us  to  be  so  dark.  May  he  who  holds  the  winds  in  his  power, 
and  the  waves  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  preserve  and  bring  him 
safe  to  his  native  land.  Will  do  I  recollect  when  I  bade  him 
farewell.  Never  till  the  last  moment,  and  when  I  felt  that  he 
must  go — never  till  then  did  I  know  how  much  I  loved  him. 
Then  I  knew  what  the  bitterness  of  parting  was.  Yet  what  are 
friends  and  kindred,  father  and  mother,  brothers  and  sisters,  com 


LETTERS    WHILE    AT    COLLEGE.  15 

pared  with  Jesus  Christ  ?     He  that  loveth  them  more  than  him,  is 
not  worthy  of  him. 

Jan.  5.  Did  you  ever  study  geometry  ?  I  am  working  at  it 
now,  and  I  do  think  it  is  about  as  dry  a  thing  as  I  ever  studied. 
It  is  not  hard,  on  the  contrary,  it  is  very  easy — but  it  is  so  regular. 
Now  I  like  order,  but  I  like  variety  too,  and  we  have  but  little  of 
that  in  Legendre.  A  square  is  a  square,  be  it  big  or  little,  and  it 
has  just  four  angles,  and  these  four  angles  are  all  equal — more- 
over, they  are  all  right  angles.  I  like  algebra :  there  is  some  va- 
riety there — something  to  turn  and  rest  the  attention  upon  at 
every  step.  Most  of  our  class  are  rejoicing  that  we  are  through 
algebra  ;  but  I  would  rather  study  it  than  geometry,  Latin,  or 
Greek. 

I  have  been  lately  reading  the  life  of  James  B.  Taylor.     I  have 
not  met  with  anything  like  it.     He  makes  me  feel  quite  ashamed 
of  myself.     Pray  for  me,  that  I  may  be  fitted  for  the  holy  ministry. 
I  remain  yours  affectionately, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Jefferson  College,  January  28th,  1837. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

. .  .We  are  still  driving  away  at  the  conic  sections,  which  are  very 
solid,  and  to  me  very  interesting.  I  do  not  think  them  hard,  by 
any  means,  although  some  do  complain  piteously  about  long  les- 
sons. I  do  not  like  Greek  so  well  as  the  mathematics,  and  I  find 
it  much  harder.  Nothing  but  the  conviction  that  it  is  necessary 
to  have  a  thorough  knowledge  of  it,  to  fit  me  for  my  future  call- 
ing, could  induce  me  to  study  it.  I  do  not  mean  to  say,  however, 
that  I  find  it  difficult. 

I  have  lately  been  reading  Swan's  Letters  on  Missions.  The 
question  of  personal  devotion  to  the  missionary  work  is  rising 
before  me,  and  I  can  scarce  help  thinking  I  am  called  upoh  to 
decide  this  question  soon.  I  have  tried  to  put  it  off,  under  various 
excuses — not,  I  hope,  with  any  wish  to  avoid  the  question,  but 
principally  owing  to  my  inexperience ;  but  I  don't  know  how  I 
can  much  longer  postpone  it.  I  intend  reading  a  great  deal  on 
the  subject,  and  hereafter  making  it  the  subject  of  special  prayer. 
I  should  like  to  have  your  views,  as  soon  as  you  have  time. 
Give  my  best  love  to  all. 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Jefferson  College,  February  7th,  1837. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

We  had  the  communion  here  about  four  weeks  ago,  and  since 
that  time  three  of  our  students  have  joined  the  church.  One  of 
my  Bible-class  has  experienced  a  hope,  and  several  others  are 
somewhat  affected.  There  has  been  an  extensive  revival  at  Cross 


16  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

Roads,  and  Florence  Academy.     One  most  profane  young  man  was 
one  of  the  first  and  clearest  cases  of  conversion. 

The  question  of  personal  devotion  to  the  missionary  cause,  has, 
a~  you  are  aware,  long  been  before  my  mind.  When  I  first  ex- 
perienced  a  hope  of  salvation,  this  subject  presented  itself  to  my 
mind.  This  feeling  has  continued  in  almost  every  time  and  place. 
This  session  I  felt  it  to  be  important  to  know  what  I  should  do. 
and  what  time  I  could  spare  was  devoted  to  the  examination  of 
the  question.  I  never  found  any  particular  difficulties,  except  ae 
to  my  piety.  At  our  last  communion  I  was  enabled  to  decide  to 
be,  by  the  grace  of  God,  a  missionary.  It  was  like  throwing  a 
heavy  burden  off  from  my  mind,  and  I  have  net  since  experienced 
one  moment  of  regret  at  the  decision.  Sometimes,  indeed,  it 
seems  hard — O,  very  hard — to  think  of  parting  with  near  and 
dear  friends  ;  but  what  are  all  these,  or  life  itself,  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  Saviour's  cause,  to  which,  two  years  ago,  I  conse- 
crated myself? 

Your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Jefferson  College,  March  10th,  1837. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

Brother  John  has  been  here  for  several  days,  and  intends  leaving 
in  the  morning.  His  health  has  improved  very  little  since  leaving 
New  York.  He  has  been  engaged  preaching  so  much,  that  it  has 
materially  prevented  his  recruiting ;  he  is,  however,  no  worse. 

In  my  last  letter  I  mentioned  that  as  far  as  I  could  see,  if  noth- 
ing providential  occurred,  I  had  made  up  my  mind  on  the  question 
"Should  I  become  a  missionary?"  It  never  seemed  to  present  any 
great  difficulty  to  my  mind,  and  I  don't  know  that  I  could  give 
any  particular  account  of  the  reasons,  which  led  me  to  believe  that 
it  was  duty  on  my  part  to  spend  my  life  among  the  heathen.  The 
question  always  seemed,  though  a  very  important  one,  to  be — Can 
1  do  more  abroad  than  at  home?  There  were  no  providential 
hinderances  to  prevent  me  from  going.  Indeed  Providence  seemed 
rather  to  point  to  the  heathen  as  the  proper  place.  My  own  incli- 
nations and  feelings  pointed  the  same  way.  If  I  have  piety  to  fit 
me  for  being  a  minister  at  home,  I  might  hope  to  have  it  for  being 
a  missionary  abroad.  Of  my  talents  and  qualifications  for  the 
work,  others  must  judge.  Almost  the  only  difficulty  was  in  regard 
to  my  health.  My  constitution  being  weak,  it  seemed  almost  un- 
able to  bear  much  fatigue ;  for  even  the  labor  of  study  is  preying 
on  it  in  some  degree.  But  though  the  case  seemed  so  clear,  do 
not  think,  dear  father,  that  it  was  on  account  of  my  vanity  that 
it  appeared  so.  For  almost  always  when  the  duty  of  being  a  mis- 
sionary appeared  strongest,  I  felt  my  own  strength  or  my  own  fit- 
ness to  be  least.  And  even  now,  when  the  troubles  and  depriva- 
tions and  duties  of  missionary  life  come  up  to  view,  the  question 


LETTERS    WHILE    IN   COLLEGE.  17 

involuntarily  occurs,  "  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ?"  Yet 
if  I  know  my  own  heart,  I  am  willing  to  live  or  die  for  the  hea- 
then. It  is  now  nearly  two  months  since  I  came  to  the  determi- 
nation expressed  above,  and  never  yet  has  a  single  emotion  of  re- 
gret crossed  my  mind  on  account  of  it.  Nay,  a  load  has  been 
thrown  off,  and  I  feel  a  deeper  interest  in  everything  that  concerns 
the  extension  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  Pray  for  me,  dear  fa- 
ther ;  unless  I  have  more  piety  than  I  now  have,  I  am  not  fit  for 
the  missionary  work,  nor  for  the  ministry  at  home. 

Your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Pittsburg,  September  13th,  1837. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

We  finished  our  examination  eight  days  ago,  but  I  have  been 
so  busy,  I  have  not  had  time  to  write  to  you.  At  the  close  of  our 
examination,  I  expected  to  be  told  that  I  might  have  my  Diploma, 
but  further  or  higher  I  had  not  directed  my  thoughts.  Judge  of 
my  surprise  then,  when  on  the  next  morning,  Dr.  Brown  gave  me 
the  enclosed  as  my  standing.*  I  had  never  thought  of  standing 
more  than  respectably,  but  this  grade  is  equivalent  to  what  was 
once  called  the  first  honor.  There  were  two  others  in  the  class 
who  were  marked  equally  high.  I  have  been  appointed  Valedicto- 
rian, which  is  considered  here  the  most  important  post  at  the  Com- 
mencement. I  hope,  however,  you  will  not  consider  me  to  be  a 
very  excellent  scholar,  on  account  of  the  high  standing  I  have 
with  the  Faculty.  In  languages  especially,  I  do  not  consider  my- 
self to  be  much  above  mediocrity. 

As  soon  as  Commencement  is  over,  I  shall  set  out  for  home. 
Though  I  should  like  very  much  to  enter  on  the  study  of  theology 
immediately,  yet  I  do  feel  almost  afraid  to  commence  without  a 
longer  recess  than  common.  During  my  collegiate  course,  I  have 
not,  on  an  average,  studied  three  hours  a  day ;  but  at  the  Semi- 
nary, I  would  wish — indeed,  it  seems  essential — that  at  least  four 
hours  daily  be  spent  in  study.  Still,  with  an  opportunity  of  daily 
systematic  exercise,  I  should  not  feel  much  hesitation  about  the 
Seminary  studies.  Others  with  far  worse  health  than  mine,  have 
gone  through  as  severe  a  course ;  and  as  I  may  probably  never 
have  very  strong  health,  it  may  not  be  wTorth  while  to  delay  on 
that  account,  especially  if  my  youth  be  not  considered  too  strong 
an  objection. 

I  remain  your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 

*  WALTER  M.  LOWRIE, 

Grade.  Grade. 

Languages,        1.  Natural  Science,  1. 

Moral  Science,  1.  Mathematics,        1. 

M.  BROWN. 


CHAPTER   II. 

OCTOBER  183Y — JANUARY  1842. 

RETURNS    HOME    FROM   COLLEGE — COURSE   IN    THE    THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY   AT 
PRINCETON — ACCEPTED   AS   A   FOREIGN   MISSIONARY — SAILS   FOR   CHINA. 

ON  leaving  College,  the  subject  of  this  memoir  returned  home, 
his  father's  family  then  residing  in  the  city  of  New  York.  His 
expectation  was  to  enter  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton 
soon  after  his  return.  The  Seminary  year,  however,  commenced 
in  September,  when  the  regular  classes  were  formed ;  and  his 
father,  still  somewhat  solicitous  respecting  his  health,  deemed  it 
best  that  he  should  have  a  recess  from  study;  an  1  he  spent  the 
winter  at  home.  Having  few  acquaintances  in  the  city,  his  win- 
ter'3  residence  at  home  vas  a  season  of  retirement  and  quiet,  and 
his  time  was  profitably  employed  in  reviewing  his  previous  studies, 
and  in  miscellaneous  reading.  He  had  also  a  good  opportunity 
of  improvement  in  vocal  music,  under  the  able  instructions  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Hastings.  During  the  winter  he  took  charge  of  a  class 
of  young  men  in  the  Sabbath  school,  who  became  greatly  attached 
to  him,  and  were  much  benefitted  by  the  care  he  bestowed  on 
their  instruction. 

In  May,  1838,  he  entered  the  Seminary,  and  afterwards  joined 
the  regular  class  formed  in  September  following.  In  his  whole 
course  in  the  Seminary  he  pursued  his  studies  very  closely.  He 
was  never  absent  from  a  single  recitation  ;  and  with  his  studies, 
and  other  necessary  duties,  his  time  was  fully  employed.  By  per- 
severing industry,  he  was  able  to  superintend  a  Sabbath  school  at 
dueenston,  a  few  miles  from  the  Seminary,  and  also  to  make  a 
Catalogue  of  the  books  in  the  Library,  and  arrange  them  anew. 

Before  leaving  College,  as  is  seen  by  his  letters,  he  had  fully  de- 
cided to  go  as  a  missionary  to  the  heathen,  and  during  his  last 
year  in  the  Seminary,  his  mind  was  settled  on  Western  Africa  as 
his  chosen  field  of  labor.  In  December,  1840,  he  was  received  aa 
a  missionary  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian 


OCTOBER   1837 — JANUARY   1842.  19 

Church.  No  objections  to  his  preference  for  Africa  were  made  by 
his  friends,  and  for  several  months  the  question  of  his  field  of 
labor  was  considered  as  fully  settled.  In  the  spring  and  summer  of 
1841,  however,  the  exigencies  of  the  China  mission  induced  the 
Executive  Committee  to  review  the  question  of  his  field  of  labor. 
The  mission  to  China  was  then  but  commencing,  and  was  en- 
compassed with  many  difficulties.  That  great  empire  was  at  that 
time  closed  against  the  Christian  missionary  ;  and  Singapore  had 
been  selected  as  the  most  suitable  place  where  the  language  of 
China  could  be  learned,  translations^  made  into  it,  schools  estab- 
lished, and  other  missionary  work  carried  on.  The  Rev.  John  A. 
Mitchell,  and  the  Rev.  Robert  W.  Orr  and  his  wife,  had  arrived 
at  Singapore  in  April,  1838.  In  the  following  October,  Mr.  Mit- 
chell was  removed  by  death.  The  next  year  Mr.  Orr's  health 
failed ;  a  visit  to  the  Nilgerry  Hills,  in  India,  did  not  restore  it ; 
and  in  1840,  he  set  out  on  his  return  home.  The  same  year,  the 
Rev.  Thomas  L.  McBryde  and  his  wife  reached  Singapore  ;  and 
in  1841,  he  was  joined  by  J.  C.  Hepburn,  M.  D.,  and  his  wife.  In 
one  year,  Mr.  McBryde's  health  had  declined  so  much,  that  it 
was  evident  he  also  must  soon  withdraw  from  that  sphere  of 
labor,  and  thus  leave  Dr.  Hepburn  alone  in  the  China  mission.  In 
these  circumstances,  and  having  at  that  time  no  other  suitable 
man  to  send,  the  question  in  the  view  of  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee was  clear,  that  China,  and  not  Western  Africa,  was  the  proper 
field  of  labor  for  the  new  missionary.  It  v/as  believed,  also,  that 
from  the  tone  of  his  piety,  his  cheerful  temper,  his  thorough  edu- 
cation, his  natural  talents  and  untiring  industry,  he  was  pecul- 
iarly fitted  for  the  China  mission.  It  was,  however,  with  many 
misgivings,  and  much  reluctance  at  first,  that  he  contemplated 
this  change  in  his  field  of  labor  ;  but  as  there  was  a  perfect  una- 
nimity of  sentiment  in  the  Executive  Committee,  ihe  professors  in 
the  Seminary  at  Princeton,  and  other  ministerial  brethren,  all  of 
whom  he  greatly  respected,  he  yielded  cheerfully  to  their  judg- 
ment— viewing  these  things  as  a  call  from  God  to  labor  in  that 
great  and  destitute  part  of  the  Saviour's  vineyard. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel  by 
the  Second  Presbytery  of  New  York.  After  leaving  the  Seminary 
in  May,  he  spent  a  few  weeks  at  home,  preaching  on  the  Sabbath 
in  different  churches.  In  July  and  August  he  was  sent  by  the 
Executive  Committee  to  the  most  distant  land  office  in  Michigan, 
to  secure  the  pre-emption  right  to  the  mission  station  among  the 


20  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

Chippewa  Indians,  as  the  government  had  advertised  the  Indian 
reservation  for  public  sale.  The  sale,  however,  was  postponed  be- 
fore he  reached  the  land  office,  and  on  his  return  he  spent  some 
time  among  the  churches  in  Western  New  York.  Late  in  the  fall 
he  visited  his  friends  in  Western  Pennsylvania  for  the  last  time, 
and  by  these  various  journeys  his  health  was  much  improved. 

He  was'  ordained  on  the  9th  of  November,  1841,  and  on  the 
evening  of  the  last  Sabbath  of  the  same  month,  a  deeply  interest- 
ing farewell  missionary  meeting  was  held  in  the  Brick  church, 
New  York.  Addresses  were  made  by  the  Rev.  Gardiner  Spring, 
D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  church,  by  the  missionary,  and  by  his  father. 
These  addresses  would  possess  much  interest  now,  but  no  copy  of 
them  was  preserved.  It  was  expected  that  the  vessel  would  sail 
earlv  in  December,  but  she  was  delayed  till  in  January,  and  in 
the  interval  his  time  was  chiefly  spent  at  home. 


New  York,  November  21st,  1837. 
MR.  JOHN  LLOYD — 

DEAR  BROTHER  : — Though  this  method  of  communication  is 
but  a  poor  substitute  for  that  "  sweet  counsel"  \ve  have  so  often  en- 
joyed, yet  as  it  is  the  best  that  now  remains  for  us,  I  gladly  embrace 
the  first  good  opportunity  that  has  yet  occurred,  to  renew  our  friend- 
ship. For  it  does  seem  as  though  it  had  to  be  renewed,  when  I 
think  that,  though  you  and  myself  have  often  "held  sweet- 
est converse  about  what  God  had  done  for  our  souls."  and  that 
though  our  eyes  have  brightened  and  our  hearts  warmed,  as  we 
"  talked  by  the  way,"  yet  now  we  are  separated  by  a  distance  of 
more  than  four  hundred  miles,  and  are  with  out  the  prospect  of  see- 
ing each  other  for  months,  and  perhaps  years.  Yet  though  sepa- 
rated in  body,  I  trust  we  are  often  present  in  spirit,  and  especially 
that,  at  the  throne  of  "  our  Father,"  we  can  still  enjoy  communion, 
and  be  the  means  of  profit  to  each  other,  perhaps  even  greater 
than  that  which  our  mutual  conversations  could  have  afforded.  It 
is  surely  consoling  to  know  that  there  is  One  who  watches  over  us, 
and  over  our  dearest  friends,  far  better  than  we  could  possibly  do, 
and  that  at  all  times  He  will  do  all  things  well.  Yet,  were  it  con- 
sistent with  duty.  I  should  like  again  to  spend  a  few  hours  with 
you.  and  again  partake  in  those  social  joys  that  kindred  spirits  like 
yours  and  mine  so  much  delight  in.  My  situation  here,  though 
fully  as  pleasant  as  I  expected  it  to  be,  is  very  different  from  what 
it  was  in  Canonsburg.  I  have  as  yet  very  few  acquaintances  here, 
and  do  not  expect  to  have  many.  Those  that  I  have,  I  know  not 
what  they  are.  for  the  rules  of  fashion  are  so  trammelling,  that 
one  cannot  at  once  make  those  friendly  advances  which  are  com- 
mon among  you.  Consequently  when  I  would  enjoy  the  holier 


LETTERS.  21 

joys  of  friendship,  I  must  draw  off  my  attention  from  things 
around  me,  and  return  to  past  days  and  scenes,  in  many  of  which 
you  and  one  or  two  others  held  a  conspicuous  part.  Do  you  mind 
that  day  after  our  missionary  meeting  of  the  Society  of  Inquiry, 
last  March,  when  you  and  I  took  that  long  walk  "  over  the  hills 
and  far  away,"  and  in  our  conversation  seemed  to  have  some  fore- 
tastes of  "  glory  begun  below  ?"  Many  and  many  a  time  has  it 
risen  to  my  mind,  and  if  it  has  not  drawn  tears  from  rny  eyes,  it 
has  done  what  is  better — encouraged  me  to  go  forward,  and  caused 
me  to  gird  up  the  loins  of  my  mind  anew  for  the  heavenly  race, 
and  made  me  sometimes  to  remember  a  friend,  a  fellow-expectant 
of  what  "  eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  hath  it  entered 
into  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive."  Yet  from  what  I  have  said, 
do  not  suppose  that  I  am  at  all  unhappy  or  discontented,  or  even 
disappointed.  So  far,  at  least,  "I  have  learned  in  whatsoever  state 
I  am,  therewith  to  be  content ;"  whether  it  will  always  be  so  or 
not,  time  will  show.  The  contrast  between  my  present  way  of 
living  and  that  at  Canonsburg,  is  very  striking.  I  see  very  little 
company  ;  attend  very  few  evening  meetings  ;  don't  make  three  or 
four  speeches  every  xveek,  (you  know  I  was  famous  for  that;)  on 
the  contrary,  hardly  open  my  mouth  from  one  week's  end  to  the 
other ;  read  a  good  deal ;  study  as  much  as  I  did  at  College ;  and  am 
on  the  whole  becoming  quite  a  domestic  animal.  I  am  very  glad 
to  find  that  comparative  solitude  agrees  so  well  with  me;  for  I  was 
really  afraid  that  after  being  so  used  to  meetings  of  one  kind  or 
another  every  night,  it  would  be  difficult  to  get  along  without  them. 
In  fact,  it  does  require  some  effort  to  keep  alive  the  spirit  of  piety, 
when  one  has  nothing  like  the  Society  of  Inquiry  or  the  Brainerd 
Society  to  excite  to  action  ;  nothing  but  the  stated  ordinances  of 
God's  house  to  nourish  the  soul.  Yet  on  that  very  account  I  prize 
my  present  situation  the  more,  because  I  am  thereby  enabled,  or 
perhaps  I  should  say  required,  to  live  more  by  faith  and  less  by 
sight,  or  frames  and  feelings.  And  to  a  missionary  nothing  can 
be  more  important,  than  to  be  able  to  live  without  anything  to 
keep  the  soul  in  constant  excitement ;  for,  as  it  has  been  well  re- 
marked, "  when  he  gets  to  his  field  of  labor,  he  can  attend  no 
crowded  meetings  to  hear  some  eloquent  orator  descant  upon  the 
magnanimity  of  the  missionary  enterprise."  All  the  "  romance  of 
missions"  must  then  be  laid  aside,  and  in  its  reality,  he  may  almost 
be  tempted  to  forget  for  whom  and  for  what  he  is  laboring,  and  be- 
coming discouraged,  lay  down  his  weapons,  and  retire  vanquished 
from  the  field  to  which  his  Master  called  him. 

It  seems  to  me,  on  looking  back  on  the  last  two  or  three  years 
of  my  collegiate  course,  that  we  all  lived  too  much  b)»  excitement, 
not  enough  by  simple  faith.  Our  religious  societies  were  precious 
and  profitable,  and  I  should  be  sorry  to  give  them  up,  but  perhaps 
we  depended  too  much  on  them,  without  remembering  that  "  Paul 
may  plant  and  Apollos  water,  but  God  alone  can  give  the  increase ;" 
and  this  dependence  on  these  means,  (at  least  in  my  own  case,) 


22  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

was  productive  of  a  spirit  of  action  more  resembling  the  "crackling 
of  thorns,"  than  the  steady,  intense  flame  that  consumed  the  Jew- 
ish sacrifices.  Oh,  my  brother  !  guard  against  this  spirit  of  trust- 
ing to  anything  in  preference  to  the  revealed  will  of  God,  and  his 
ordinances,  for  animation  in  the  divine  life. 

What  is  the  state  of  missionary  feeling  now  among  you  ?  Do 
you  yet  hear  the  voice,  "Come  over  and  help  us,"  and  the  wailing 
cry,  "  And  what  then  ?"  as  it  rises  from  the  death-bed  of  the  Hin- 
doo, and,  borne  across  the  waste  of  waters,  reaches  our  ears  both 
from  the  east  and  the  west,  swelled  as  it  is,  and  heightened  and 
prolonged  by  the  addition  of  innumerable  others  ?  Oh,  does  the 
"  cry  of  the  nations,"  echoed  and  re-echoed  from  the  distant  moun- 
tains, still  sound  among  you  ?  Or  does  it  die  away  among  the 
crumbling  ruins  of  heathen  temples,  unheard  and  unheeded,  save 
by  the  infidel  and  the  deist  1  Oh,  who  is  there  to  come  up  to  the 
help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty  1  There  is  nothing  in  all 
my  course  for  which  I  reproach  myself  so  much,  as  that  I  did  so 
little  to  excite  a  missionary  spirit  at  College.  I  do  not  mean  among 
those  who  were  already  determined  as  to  the  path  of  duty,  but 
among  those  who  had  not  decided  the  question ;  for  very  rarely 
did  I  press  upon  any  of  them  as  I  should,  the  importance  of  the 
work,  the  necessity,  absolute,  increasing,  and  alas  !  almost  irreme- 
diable necessity  now  existing  for  laborers,  and  their  own  duty  in 
this  great  matter.  Dear  brother,  can  you  not  do  something  ?  You 
have  the  confidence  of  most  of  the  pious  students,  and  could  you 
but  muster  courage  enough  to  determine  to  do  something  in  this 
matter,  unborn  millions  would  bless  you  for  it.  Let  me  transcribe 
for  you  a  few  lines  from  an  appeal  of  some  missionaries  in  India ; 
you  have  perhaps  seen  them  before,  but  they  will  bear  reading  and 
praying  over  again : 

"  The  soil  is  ready  for  the  seed,  and  the  seed  ready  to  be  sown, 
but  where  are  the  husbandmen  1  In  some  places  it  has  been  scat- 
tered abroad  and  the  fields  are  white  for  the  harvest,  but  where  are 
the  reapers  ?  Congregations  large  and  attentive  might  be  procured 
every  day,  but  we  have  no  men.  Schools  might  be  established  on 
Christian  principles,  but  we  have  no  men.  Humanly  speaking,  souls 
might  be  saved,  but  lhow  can  they  hear  without  a  preacher?1 
You  can  increase  the  number  of  these  queries  to  an  almost  indefinite 
extent,  but  the  answer  will  almost  always  be,  we  have  no  men  ! 
We  have  gone  to  the  colleges  and  seminaries  of  learning,  but  we 
found  few  to  answer  our  demands.  We  went  to  the  haunts  of  so- 
ciety, but  one  was  busied  about  his  farm,  and  another  about  his 
merchandise,  and  another  with  the  sweets  of  domestic  society. 
We  went  tq  the  schools  of  the  prophets,  and  asked  if  on  any  of 
them  rested  the  spirit  of  Elijah  ?  but  there  were  few  to  answer 
the  call.  Despairing,  we  looked  to  the  heathen,  and  as  we  saw  them 
go  down  by  crowds  to  the  darkness  of  the  second  death,  we  felt 
as  if  yet  another  effort  should  be  made.  Oh,  who  will  go  for  us  ?" 

Wishing  you  all  temporal  and  all  spiritual  blessings,  and  sym- 


LETTERS.  23 

pathizing  most  sincerely  with  you  in  your  late  afflicting  bereave- 
ment, (of  which  I  have  only  just  heard,) 

I  remain  your  brother, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


New  York,  November  29th,  1837. 
MR.  ROGER  OWEN — 

DEAR  BROTHER, — I  had  intended  to  have  a  long  conversation 
with  you,  about  the  management  of  our  Sabbath  school  next 
summer ;  and  though  it  may  seem  like  officiousness  in  me  to 
volunteer  my  advice,  yet  my  brother,  with  whom  I  have  been  so 
long  associated  in  that  beloved  place,  will  not  take  it  hard,  if  I  stir 
up  his  mind  by  way  of  remembrance.  In  the  first  place,  it  will 
be  best  for  you  to  use  your  own  judgment ;  and  at  all  times,  while 
you  do  Jiot  appear  to  assume  any  power,  you  must  let  the  scholars 
know  mat  you  are  the  superintendent.  Govern  them,  however, 
by  love.  Try  to  enter  into  all  their  feelings,  and  make  your  in- 
structions of  such  a  character,  that  every  one  can  understand  you. 
If  the  children  can  understand  you,  there  is  no  danger  but  that 
the  older  scholars  will ;  but  the  reverse  is  not  so  certain.  Let 
your  speeches,  however,  be  always  short.  I  erred  sometimes  in 
this,  though  not  often  conscious  of  it.  Go  about  the  room  often  ; 
walk  up  and  down  the  aisles,  and  look  at  the  classes  as  you  pass : 
this  will  have  a  great  effect,  though  I  neglected  it  almost  entirely. 
I  am  sure  I  did  wrong  in  not  doing  it  more  than  I  did.  Go  to  the 
several  classes,  and  talk  to  each  class  at  least  once  in  the  session. 
Here  again  I  failed.  The  teachers  always  seemed  to  have  enough 
to  do,  and  I  did  not  like  to  interrupt  them.  But  I  think  it  would 
be  better  to  go  sometimes,  even  if  you  do  interrupt  the  regular 
lesson,  and  say  a  few  words,  even  if  you  do  not  talk  more  than 
half  a  minute.  But  if  you  do  go,  don't  talk  more  than  three  or 
four  minutes.  One  of  my  class  said,  towards  the  close  of  the  ses- 
sion, "  Mr.  Lowrie  seems  to  have  forgotten  us  entirely,  for  he 
never  comes  near  us  any  more."  Keep  up  the  missionary  talks 
by  all  means.  Be  sure,  while  you  are  speaking,  always  to  seem, 
and  I  hope  you  will  feel,  as  if  there  were  none  but  children  pres- 
ent, and  no  person  else  in  the  world  knew  what  you  were  doing. 
And  probably,  when  you  are  talking,  and  trying  to  lead  their 
young  minds  heavenward,  you  will  find  it  best  not  to  say  a  great 
deal  directly  to  induce  them  to  be  Christians.  For  example,  don't 
say,  "  You  ought  to  be  Christians  now,  because  you  may  die  soon 
— because  you  will  be  the  happier  for  it,"&c.  ;  but  preach  "Christ 
and  him  crucified"  to  them.  This  way  of  telling  children  that  it 
is  their  duty  to  be  pious,  and  how  great  a  benefit  it  will  be  to 
themselves,  has  generally  but  little  permanent  effect ;  at  least,  it 
never  had  much  on  me,  and  I  never  found  it  to  have  much  on 
others.  These  are  some  of  the  principal  things  that  occurred  to 
me,  as  being  worth  while  to  write  to  you  about.  I  do  not  know 


24  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

that  it  was  necessary  that  I  should  have  written  about  them  at 
all ;  but  if  it  was  not,  you  know  the  motives  which  penned  them. 

There  is  one  thing  which  you  cannot  keep  too  distinctly  before 
you — earnest,  importunate  prayer.  You  would  probably  find  it 
an  advantage  to  have  a  list  of  all  your  teachers,  on  a  small  slip 
of  paper.  Place  this  in  your  Bible,  and  make  it  a  point  to  re- 
member at  least  one  of  them  every  day  in  your  prayers.  You 
should  also  have  a  list  of  all  the  scholars,  and,  if  possible,  know 
them  all  by  their  first  names.  Maintain,  also,  the  utmost  possible 
affection  among  your  teachers,  and  between  them  and  yourself ; 
be  a  brother  to  them  in  heart,  and  your  conduct  will  be  all  that  is 
necessary.  If  you  can,  even  at  the  expense  of  a  good  deal  of  in- 
convenience, make  a  circuit  of  the  congregation  on  behalf  of  the 
Sabbath  school,  about  the  time  you  commence,  you  will  find  it  of 
immense  benefit. 

Such  are  some  of  the  points  on  which  1  would  like-to  have 
talked  with  you  particularly,  and  one  of  my  objects  in  writing 
them  to  you,  is  to  show  you,  that  the  interest  I  feel  in  Miller's 
Run  Sabbath  school,  its  teachers,  and  its  present  superintendent, 
is  still  unimpaired  ;  and  long  may  it  continue  so  !  It  is  my  ear- 
nest prayer,  that  you  may  all  increase  in  love,  and  be  far  more 
useful  and  active  than  ever  I  was,  and  that  the  blessing  of  "  Our 
Father"  may  rest  upon  you.  Farewell,  my  brother.  There  is  a 
place  where,  though  separated  in  body,  we  can  still  meet,  and 
hold  communication  with  each  other. 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


New  York,  January  1st,  1838. 
MR.  JOHN  LLOYD — 

A  happy  new  year  to  you,  friend  John  !  and  may  you  see  many 
more  such,  if  the  Lord  will !  What  are  you  doing  now,  whilst  I 
am  writing  to  you  ?  Cousin  John  tells  me  you  have  holidays  (old 
times  are  in  that  word,)  at  present ;  so  I  will  just  let  my  imagin- 
ation try  if  she  can  find  where  you  are,  or  what  you  are  doing. 
But  as  you  are  pretty  much  of  a  home-loving  creature,  I  suppose 
I  need  not  go  far  to  find  you.  Probably  you  are  going  about,  pay- 
ing some  fifteen  minute  visits,  for  you  were  never  famous  for  long 
ones  ;  or  very  probably  you  are  standing  by  the  side  of  the  old 
mill-dam,  and  watching  the  fellows  skating.  I  hardly  think  you 
would  adventure  yourself  on  the  ice,  for  you  are  most  too  grave 
for  that.  But  no — I  forget ;  this  is  the  first  Monday  of  the 
month,  and  of  the  year,  and  therefore  you  are  probably  stuck  up 
in  a  corner  of  your  room,  reading  all  the  missionary  pamphlets 
you  can  lay  hands  on.  By  the  way,  have  you  read  the  life  of 
Swartz  1  If  you  have  not,  let  me  "  lay  my  commands"  on  you 
to  read  it  immediately.  You  know  how  much  our  experience 
resembles  eaeh  other's — now  rejoicing,  and  now,  again,  discour- 
aged and  without  heart.  Swartz  was  always  on  the  proper  pitch; 


LETTERS.  25 

constantly  in  the  exercise  of  strong,  unwavering,  childlike  confi- 
dence in  God,  and  therefore  he  was  always  ready  to  employ  him- 
self in  his  Master's  business.  He  was  always  busy,  always 
cheerful,  and  always  useful.  Dear  brother,  may  we  strive  to  be 
like  him,  and  may  we  have  the  same  success  in  our  labors  that 
he  had  in  his  !  I  can  ask  for  few  blessings  greater,  either  for  you 
or  for  myself,  than  is  contained  in  that  wish.  I  read  Bedell's 
memoirs  some  time  ago,  and  have  just  now  finished  those  of 
Hannah  More.  They  are  both  of  them  most  excellent.  The 
former  I  was  delighted  with.  The  memoirs  of  the  latter  are  also 
very  interesting,  indeed.  They  are  compiled  from  her  letters 
almost  entirely,  including  a  great  many  from  various  celebrated 
characters  who  were  cotemporary  with  herself ;  and  are,  I  think, 
excellent  models  of  epistolary  correspondence.  The  style  of 
almost  all  is  very  good,  and,  what  is  far  more  important,  through 
most  of  them  there  is  a  strong  vein  of  deep-toned  sensibility  and 
piety.  I  really  began  to  entertain  a  considerable  degree  of  rever- 
ence for  her  before  I  got  quite  through  the  memoir.  She  was  an 
extraordinary  woman,  possessed  of  more  than  common  talents, 
and  able  to  do  almost  what  she  pleased  ;  yet,  so  far  from  indulging 
herself  in  this  liberty,  her  whole  life  was  spent  in  a  most  quiet  manner, 
without  any  flashes,  or  romantic  adventures  or  pursuits,  or  anything 
inconsistent  with  the  character  of  a  plain,  common-sense  woman. 

Mitchell  and  Orr,  missionaries  to  China,  sailed  nearly  a  month 
ago.  How  soon  will  you  be  ready  ?  Do  you  still  think  of  China 
in  preference  to  India? 

It  seems  strange  that  this  is  the  beginning  of  another  year. 
How  the  time  rolls  round  !  Yet  to  me  the  thought  that  time  is 
rapidly  passing  away  is  pleasant.  It  is  solemn,  and  yet  most 
delightful,  to  think  that  my  "  salvation  is  nearer  than  when  I  be- 
lieved ;"  that,  if  I  am  a  Christian,  I  am  three  years  nearer  to  my 
heavenly  home  than  when  first  the  light  of  truth  beamed  on  my 
darkened  and  distressed  mind.  True,  of  many  misimprovements 
and  much  waste  of  precious  time,  I  have  to  accuse  myself ;  yet 
still  the  Lord  is  full  of  compassion,  and^the  blood  of  Christ  cleans- 
eth  from  all  sin  ;  and  through  him  I  can  look  death  in  the  face, 
and  exclaim,  when  Satan,  and  doubts,  and  fears  assail  me,  "  I 
know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth."  By  the  way,  I  heard  a  sermon 
on  that  text  yesterday,  from  an  Episcopal  minister.  He  said  that 
the  word  translated  Redeemer  in  this  passage,  was  the  same  as 
that  used  in  Ruth  iii.  9,  "  A  near  kinsman,"  or,  as  the  margin  has 
it.  "  One  that  has  a  right  to  redeem."  The  mention  that  such 
was  the  meaning  of  the  word,  led  me  into  a  train  of  very  pleasing 
and  profitable  thought.  If  we  had  been  taken  captive  by  enemies, 
and  knew  that  our  father,  or  mother,  or  brother,  were  aware  of  it, 
we  should  be  sure  that  they  would  use  every  exertion  to  ransom 
us.  But  there  is  a  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother :  this 
friend  is  our  Redeemer,  and  this  Redeemer  is  the  omnipotent  God. 
Can  there,  then,  be  any  doubt  of  our  final  salvation  ? 


26  MEMOIU    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

The  last  two  or  three  months  have  been  very  pleasant  ones.  I 
seem  to  have  had  more  nearness  of  access  to  God,  greater  confi- 
dence in  the  Saviour,  and  more  of  the  influences  of  the  Spirit, 
than  I  have  usually  had.  Among  other  reasons  for  these  great 
blessings,  I  have  no  doubt  but  the  prayers  of  my  many  friends  in 
Canonsburg  and  its  vicinity  have  had  much  effect.  I  still  need 
your  prayers  very  much,  for  I  am  prone  every  moment  to  fall. 

And  now,  brother,  my  paper  tells  me  I  must  close ;  and  com- 
mending you  to  the  grace  of  God,  which  is  able  to  keep  you 
through  faith  unto  salvation,  I  remain, 

Your  affectionate  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


New  York,  January  27th,  1838. 
MR.  ROGER  OWEN- 
DEAR  BROTHER: — It  would  be  in  vain  to  attempt  to  tell  you 
how  much  pleasure  your  letter  gave  me.  Although  all  the  letters 
I  have  received  this  winter  awakened  delightful  associations,  and 
opened  up  fountains  of  fond  reminiscences,  yet  none  did  so  more 
than  yours.  I  could  almost  think  we  were  again  sitting  on  the 
logs,  or  under  the  old  shady  trees  at  Miller's  Run,  and  holding 
sweet  converse  as  in  days  past.  It  seemed  as  if  we  were  again 
walking  out  together  to  "  Pleasant  Valley,"  "  Rural  Retreat,"  or 
"  Linden  Hill,"  or  some  other  such  place,  and  from  behind  every 
tree  some  old  friend  would  step  out  to  welcome  me,  and  every  fence- 
corner  and  hollow  tree  told  a  tale  of  other  times.  It  may  be  fancy, 
but  I  always  think  I  can  see  the  face  of  a  friend,  and  hear  his 
voice,  and  recall  all  his  peculiar  modes  of  speaking  and  pronunci- 
ation, when  I  see  his  handwriting. 

I  was  indeed  sorry  to  hear  that  none  of  our  dear  Sabbath  School 
scholars  had  joined  the  church,  and  more  than  once  while  think- 
ing of  it,  tears  would  have  been  a  relief;  yet  I  could  not  say  that 
it  was  surprising.  It  was  but  just,  for  so  many  imperfections  and 
so  much  unfaithfulness  marked  my  conduct  and  prayers  and 
labors  there  during  the  last  summer,  that  I  could  hardly  expect  any- 
thing else.  Dear  brother,  profit  by  my  experience,  and  avoid  the 
keen  self-reproaches  which  I  often  feel  on  account  of  my  negli- 
gence. How  much  more  prayerful  I  might  have  been  !  How 
much  more  earnest  and  faithful  in  my  labors  and  appeals  to  the 
consciences  of  those  who  met  in  our  school.  You  cannot  pray  too 
much  for  the  school;  you  cannot  labor  too  much  for  their  conver- 
sion. Slack  not,  then,  your  diligence  ;  oh,  be  faithful !  Labor,  if 
need  be  night  and  day  with  tears,  if  by  any  means  you  may  save 
some ;  and  assuredly  you  will  not  repent  of  your  exertions  on  a  dying 
bed,  or  at  the  judgment  day.  I  speak  this  to  stir  you  up,  know- 
ing from  my  own  feelings  how  unpleasant  is  the  recollection  of 
unfaithfulness.  You  all.  1  believe,  thought  me  active,  and  in 
some  degree  faithful ;  but  none  of  you  knew  as  I  did  and  do  now, 


LETTERS.  27 

how  much  more  I  might  have  done  had  I  imitated  our  blessed 
Saviour,  "  who  pleased  not  himself."  Yet  though  I  was  unfaith- 
ful, there  were  others  who  were  not  so,  and  therefore  I  do  not 
despair,  but  hope  and  believe  that  the  labors  of  last  summer  will 
not  all  be  lost. 

I  have  not  much  to  add  to  what  was  said  in  my  last,  about  your 
duties,  though  there  are  two  things  which  you  have  probably 
thought  of  before  now. 

1st.  When  any  children  or  young  persons  come  into  the  church 
in  the  morning,  to  go  and  ask  them  to  join  some  class,  unless  you 
know  they  will  not ;  this  should  always  be  done.  Last  summer, 
I  observed  three  or  four  little  girls  and  boys  who  came  in  one 
morning,  and  sat  in  one  of  the  vacant  seats.  The  first  morning 
I  went  and  asked  them  to  join  some  class,  but  could  not  persuade 
them  to  do  so.  The  next  day  several  came,  and  as  they  appeared 
to  be  the  same,  I  did  not  ask  them  to  join  a  class.  So  it  was  the 
next  day,  and  on  the  fourth  Sabbath,  rinding  they  were  still  there, 
I  determined  to  ask  them  again,  though  hardly  expecting  they 
would.  To  my  great  surprise  they  consented  at  once.  I  felt  a 
pang  in  my  conscience  for  leaving  them  thus  for  two  or  three 
Sabbaths  without  pressing  the  matter,  and  even  yet,  the  recollec- 
tion of  it  is  very  painful. 

2d.  It  is  hardly  worth  while  to  tell  you  the  second,  though 
it  would  have  been  well  for  me  if  I  had  known  it:  don't  do 
everything  yourself,  and  yet  be  the  soul  of  all  that  is  done. 
That  is,  there  are  many  things  the  teachers  can  do,  and  if  you 
would  just  direct  them  or  ask  them  to  do  it,  while  you  employ 
yourself  about  other  matters,  it  would  make  them  feel  more  re- 
sponsibility, and  extend  your  influence,  and  give  you  time  for  other 
things.  For  instance,  the  teachers  ought  to  feel  that  it  is  their 
duty  to  increase  the  number  of  scholars,  not  only  in  their  own 
classes  but  in  others,  and  not  leave  this  entirely  to  the  superinten- 
dent. 

When  one  of  your  teachers  is  absent,  and  procures  another  to 
suMBiy  his  or  her  place,  be  sure  that  you  yourself  take  the  person 
who  is  to  supply,  and  introduce  him  to  the  class.  This  is  your 
business,  and  not  the  business  of  the  teacher  who  may  accompany 
him  to  the  house. 

I  was  at  Princeton  last  week,  "spying  out  the  land,"  and  brought 
back  a  favorable  report.  If  life  and  health  be  spared,  I  shall  prob- 
ably go  there  next  summer.  Your  brother  was  well,  and  all  of 
our  Jefferson ians,  of  whom  there  were  a  dozen. 

May  I  recommend  you  a  plan  of  studying  the  Bible  which  I 
have  found  exceedingly  profitable?  i.  e.,  to  study  three  or  four 
verses  every  morning  carefully,  with  all  Scott's  marginal  references. 
Take  up  faith,  repentance,  the  love  of  Christ,  humility,  &c.,  or 
some  particular  subject. 

1  am  your  affectionate  brother, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


28  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

Princeton,  July  4th,  1838. 
MY  D.EAR  MOTHER— 

...  I  get  up  every  morning  at  half  past  four,  often  sooner,  but 
rarely  later,  and  take  a  walk  of  one  or  two  miles.  It  is  most  invig- 
orating to  the  whole  system,  while  the  fresh  air,  singing  birds,  plea«3- 
ant  fragrance  of  the  fields,  and  the  thousand  and  one  nameless 
pleasures  of  a  morning  walk,  concur  to  make  it  a  most  delightful 
custom.  When  I  get  back  it  is  near  breakfast  time.  The  appro- 
priate duties  of  the  morning  over,  I  commence  study  at  seven,  and 
continue  till  half  past  ten,  or  perhaps  eleven,  at  Latin,  Greek  and 
Hebrew,  singing  a  little  at  intervals  by  way  of  relaxation.  Din- 
ner is  ready  at  half  past  twelve,  and  miscellaneous  employments 
occupy  me  till  two ;  then  some  regular  reading  connected  with  the 
course  here,  till  half  past  four.  Prayers  and  supper  at  five,  and 
company,  talking,  walking,  singing,  meetings,  bathing,  reading, 
writing,  thinking,  and  not  thinking,  &c.,  till  nine.  Generally  I 
manage  to  be  asleep  soon  after  ten.  My  next  door  neighbor  has 
an  alarm  clock,  which  usually  awakens  me  in  the  morning,  and 
if  it  did  not  the  old  bell  would  at  five.  Though  not  pursuing  the 
regular  studies  of  my  class,  I  find  abundance  to  do,  and  my  time 
generally  passes  in  the  way  above  described. 

There  is  here,  as  may  be  supposed,  every  variety  of  character. 
The  variety  is  fully  as  great,  if  not  greater,  than  it  was  at  College, 
excluding  of  course  those  who  were  not  professors  of  religion. 
There  is  a  good  deal  of  reserve  among  the  students  towards  new 
comers,  though  perhaps  not  greater  than  one  would  expect.  As 
yet  I  have  not  made  many  intimate  acquaintances,  and  do  not 
wish  to,  for  a  short  time.  There  are,  however,  some  lovely  spir- 
its among  these  brethren. 

Yours  affectionately, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton,  July  21st,  1838. 
MR.  ROGER  OWEN — 

DEAR  BROTHER, — Another  week  has  passed — your  session  is 
more  than  half,  and  ours  more  than  one  third  over  ;  and  yet  to 
me,  as  probably  to  you,  it  seems  but  a  few  days  since  it  com- 
menced. It  seems  almost  strange  sometimes,  that  we  can  be 
indolent  or  weary  in  well-doing,  when  we  think  how  short  our 
time  is.  Were  it  not  that  we  have  almost  daily  experience  to  the 
contrary,  we  should  think  there  was  no  danger  of  our  becoming 
cold  in  the  service  of  our  Master.  But  "  ere  one  fleeting  hour  is 
past,"  we  often  feel  our  hearts  grow  cold.  But  though  we  are 
fickle  and  changing  as  the  morning  cloud,  or  the  smoke  of  the 
chimney,  or  the  chaff  from  the  threshing-floor,  yet  God  remaineth 
ever  the  same,  unchangeably  glorious  and  good  to  all  his  crea- 
tures. The  thought,  that  we  shall  one  day  be  admitted  to  dwell 


LETTERS.  29 

with  him,  to  be  ever  with  the  Lord,  is  glorious  indeed,  and  may 
well  induce  us  to  bear  trials,  and  temptations,  and  sorrows,  and 
labors,  for  his  sake.  This  was  much  impressed  upon  my  mind 
the  other  day,  when  thinking  on  the  verse,  "  Fear  not,  little  flock, 
for  it  is  your  Father's  good  pleasure  to  give  you  the  kingdom." 
How  emphatic  !  every  word  almost  has  its  meaning.  "  Little 
flock" — an  expression  of  tenderness.  What  must  have  been  our 
Saviour's  feelings,  as  he  looked  on  his  disciples  and  uttered  these 
words  !  (Luke  xii.  32.)  An  innumerable  multitude  were  around 
him — Pharisees  and  Sadducees,  his  enemies,  and  those  who  said 
they  belonged  to  no  party.  But  his  all-seeing  eye,  and  all-know- 
ing mind,  as  it  glanced  over  that  vast  multitude,  saw  but  a  few 
of  his  own  real  followers.  The  vast  majority  were  his  enemies. 
His  own  were  few,  like  sheep  in  the  world's  wide  desert,  surround- 
ed with  those  who  would  rejoice  to  drink  their  blood,  and  extir- 
pate them  from  the  earth.  But  the  voice  of  Jesus  falls  like  soft 
music  on  their  ears.  "  Fear  not,  little  flock,"  though  the  world 
oppose  you,  though  men  rise  up  against  you,  though  this  is  not 
your  rest — yet  still  "  it  is  your  Father's  good  pleasure  to  give  you 
the  kingdom/'  "  Our  Father" — the  most  endearing,  trust-inspir- 
ing name  that  could  be  given  him.  "  Good  pleasure" — not  plea- 
sure merely,  but  his  good  pleasure,  his  delight.  "  To  give" — for 
we  do  not  deserve,  and  cannot  purchase  it,  unworthy,  weak,  and 
sinful  as  we  are.  "  The  kingdom" — not  a  kingdom,  but  the 
kingdom, — the  only  one  worth  having,  the  only  one  wrhose  pos- 
session does  not  give  its  owner  more  sorrow  than  joy,  more  thorns 
than  roses.  A  kingdom  includes  all  our  ideas  of  worldly  happi- 
ness— wealth,  honor,  fame,  ease,  pleastire,  and  the  power  of  doing 
good — all  this ;  yet  every  earthly  kingdom  is  but  a  faint  shadow 
of  better  things  to  come,  which  eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard, 
nor  hath  it  entered  into  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive.  Pardon 
me,  my  brother,  if  I  have  unreasonably  trespassed  on  your  pa- 
tience by  the  above,  but  the  train  of  thought  pleased  me,  and 
perhaps  it  may  cheer  you,  sometimes,  in  difficulty  or  distress. 

TUae  other  morning,  when  taking  a  walk  before  breakfast,  I 
found  a  little,  bird,  just  fledged,  ou  the  road;  it  could  fly  only  a 
few  steps.  The  innocent  little  thing  let  me  catch  it,  and  hold  it, 
without  appearing  at  all  alarmed ;  but  the  parent  birds  were  in 
great  distress.  I  set  it  down,  and  it  ran  off  into  some  long  grass. 
The  old  birds  immediately  flew  down,  and  began  to  limp  along 
before  me  in  several  curious  figures  ;  and  after  going  ten  or  twelve 
yards,  one  of  them  very  slyly  turned  back,  while  the  other  led  me 
on  some  forty  or  fifty  yards  further,  and  then,  taking  wing,  thought, 
though  she  did  not  say,  "  Good  morning  to  you,  sir ;"  and  flew 
back  to  the  place  where  we  commenced  our  acquaintance,  and  I 
saw  her  no  more.  You  may  draw  your  own  moral  from  this ;.  it 
pleased  me  very  much. 

I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  Mrs.  G ,  which  revived 

many  old  recollections.  The  continued  prosperity  of  your  school 


30  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

rejoices  my  heart,  though  I  am  sometimes  tempted  almost  to  envy 
you  the  privilege  you  have  in  attending  there.  May  the  Lord  be 
with  and  bless  you  abundantly.  I  was  surprised  and  delighted, 
as  well  as  humbled,  to  hear  of  the  effect  produced  by  the  letter  I 
sent  some  time  ago.  If  it  produces  any  good  effects,  it  cannot  be 
owing  to  any  goodness  of  the  author,  but  only  to  the  grace  of  God. 
You  still  keep  up  the  missionary  talks.  What  subject  do  you  at- 
tend to  this  summer  ?  and  how  much  interest  appears  to  be  felt 
in  this  great,  great  subject  ?  It  seems,  to  me  at  least,  more  and 
more  important,  that  a  missionary  spirit  be  excited  in  the  minds 
of  children — of  young  children.  While  we  must  not,  by  any 
means,  neglect  the  Catechism  and  the  Bible,  or  rather  the  Bible 
and  the  Catechism,  yet  now  is  the  best  time  to  make  them  feel 
on  the  subject  of  saving  a  world.  If  they  be  instructed  in  the 
principles  of  missions  now,  they  will  need  no  argument  to  con- 
vince them  of  the  importance  and  duty  of  sending  the  gospel  to 
the  heathen. 

There  are  some  lovely  spirits  here.  The  standard  of  piety  is 
by  no  means  as  high  as  it  should  be ;  but  still  there  are  some  who 
seem  to  walk  with  God.  The  missionary  brethren,  of  whom  there 
are  some  fourteen  or  fifteen,  include  some  of  the  best  men  in  the 
Seminary.  It  has  been  very  profitable  to  me  to  be  here,  but  still 
I  find  ii,  ix'.juires  watching  and  prayer ;  and  often,  O  very  often, 
does  this  cold  heart  become  weary  in  well-doing.  Often  does  it 
become  very  formal,  and  search  for  truth  more  with  a  critical  than 
a  practical  view.  This  is  one  of  the  great  dangers  here.  Dear 
brother,  pray  for  me.  Be  courageous,  and  strong  in  the  service 
of  God.  Did  you  ever  observe  the  blessed  promises  and  encour- 
agements of  the  first  chapter  of  Joshua  ?  They  apply  to  us,  as 
well  as  to  Joshua  of  old. 

May  the  Lord  of  love  and  peace  be  with,  and  bless  you  abun- 
dantly. 

Your  affectionate  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 

Princeton,  September  8th,  1838. 
DEAR  MOTHER — 

....  With  one  exception  this  country  is  very  pleasant,  but  that 
exception  is  a  great  drawback ;  we  have  none  of  the  grand  hills 
and  valleys  that  are  found  about  the  Alleghany  river,  and  conse- 
quently but  little  variety  of  scenery.  The  sunset  scenes  here  sur- 
pass in  beauty  all  that  I  have  ever  seen,  for  such  a  country  is  just, 
the  kind  for  them;  wide  plains  "bathed  in  light,"  and  gradually 
becoming  less  and  less  visible  as  the  sun  sinks  in  the  west,  con- 
spire to  shed  a  peaceful  impression  o\  er  the  mind.  But  for  that 
very  reason  our  morning  prospects  are  dull.  The  animating  scene 
of  the  sun  gilding  first  the  tops  of  the  hills,  then  penetrating  to 
the  deep  valleys,  is  not  witnessed  here 


LETTERS.  31 

I  have  never,  it  seems  to  me,  felt  such  a  true  affection  for  all 
my  relations  and  friends,  as  during  this  summer,  and  never  such 
a  willingness  to  leave  them  all,  and  go  wherever  duty  might  call, 
even,  if  necessary,  to  the  "  grave  of  the  white  man,"  Western  Af- 
rica— where  few  are  laboring,  and  none  seem  ready  to  go  and 
help  them.  Dr.  Miller  made  some  excellent  remarks  at  our  last 
Monthly  Concert,  on  the  necessity  of  more  entire  dependence  on 
the  Spirit  of  God  in  the  work  of  missions.  Some  statements  had 
been  made  in  regard  to  the  great  want  of  laborers  in  some  fields, 
and  he  took  occasion  thence  to  observe  that  we  are  too  apt  to  rely 
on  mere  human  strength,  and  if  a  person  has  filled  any  particular 
station  well  for  a  length  of  time,  we  imagine  it  would  be  left  en- 
tirely unsupplied  on  his  removal,  as  though  man  and  not  God  was 
the  cause  of  any  success  or  prosperity.  It  was  a  consoling  truth, 
and  especially  so  for  those  who,  as  watchmen,  know  best  the  wants 
of  the  world,  and  the  difficulty  of  supplying  them.  .  .  . 

Our  session  closes  in  a  short  time,  and  if  spared,  I  hope  to  be 
home  this  day  three  weeks.  I  had  intended  going  on  foot  to 
Easton,  and  through  the  northern  parts  of  New  Jersey,  but  have 
now  decided  to  wait  till  near  the  close  of  vacation.  Besides,  I 
have  some  thought  of  studying  Hebrew  with  Dr.  Nordheimer,  in 
New  York,  during  the  vacation.  He  is  undoubtedly  the  best  He- 
brew scholar  in  the  United  States,  though  yet  a  very  young  man. 
He  told  me  I  might  acquire  a  good  knowledge  of  it  in  that  time, 
and  if  so,  the  course  here  would  not  only  be  less  laborious,  but  in 
some  things  far  more  profitable. 

My  health  is  better  now,  and  appears  more  firm  than  it  has  ever 
been  ;  and  though  I  have  studied  harder  than  ever  before,  yet  the 
pain  in  my  breast  has  almost  entirely  left  me,  and  I  have  not  had 
an  hour's  sickness  of  any  kind  since  leaving  New  York.  Truly 
"  my  cup  runneth  over."  Yet  probably  a  week  of  sickness  would 
prostrate  me  far  more  than  many  others,  but  "  sufficient  unto  the 
day  is  the  evil  thereof."  Thus  far  I  have  had  strength  given  me 
for  the  performance  of  duty,  and  here  I  raise  my  Ebenezer : 

"  Hither  by  thy  grace  I'm  come, 
And  I  hope  by  thy  good  pleasure, 
Safely  to  arrive  at  home." 

There  is  a  beautiful  hymn  and  tune  in  the  Manhattan  collec- 
tion, page  200.  We  have  a  good  deal  of  singing  and  music  here, 
but  not  much  good  music.  The  style  of  singing  does  not  please 
one  very  well,  who  has  imbibed  Mr.  Hastings'  love  of  distinct  ar- 
ticulation and  expression. 

With  much  affection, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


32  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

New  York,  October  6th,  1838. 
MR.  JOHN  M.  LOWRIE  — 

DEAR  COUSIN  :  —  The  news  of  our  dear  Sarah's  death  was  en- 
tirely unexpected.  I  had  heard  she  was  unwell,  and  apparently 
declining,  but  had  no  expectation  at  all  that  she  would  so  soon  be 
called  hence. 

I  can  sympathize  with  you,  dear  cousin,  for  your  case  is  much 
like  my  own.  In  my  firs.t  session  at  College  I  lost  my  mother,  and 
in  my  third  my  sister  ;  a  sister  too,  whose  sweet  and  engaging  dis- 
position had  made  her  to  be  loved  by  all  who  knew  her.  It  is  my 
prayer  and  my  hope  that  this  affliction  may  be  sanctified  to  us  all, 
and  that,  while  our  ties  to  earth  are  being  severed  one  by  one,  we 
may  be  the  closer  drawn  to  our  God,  and  may  place  our  affections 
more  and  more  in  heaven,  where  there  is  no  more  sickness  nor 
sorrow,  nor  pain  nor  death.  My  return  to  New  York  this  fall  was 
rendered  solemn  by  several  circumstances.  About  a  month  ago, 
one  of  our  Sunday  School  teachers,  an  amiable  and  pious  young 
lady,  died  ;  and  last  Monday,  a  sister  of  another.  These  circum- 
stances seem  to  have  cast  a  gloom  over  the  circle  of  our  friends 
here,  which  is  increased  by  the  dangerous  illness  of  two  or  three 
others.  Truly  we  live  in  a  world  of  death,  and  it  seems  strange 
that  we  should  ever  seek  for  happiness  in  such  a  world. 

"  None  but  Jesus 
Can  do  helpless  sinners  good." 

Messrs.  Scott,  Freeman,  and  Warren,  with  their  wives,  expect 
to  sail  from  Philadelphia  for  India  next  Monday.  Father  is  at 
Philadelphia  now,  and  will  not  return  until  they  go.  I  became 
very  much  attached  to  Brother  Scott  this  summer.  He  was  for- 
merly my  Bible  class  teacher  at  College,  and  it  was  very  pleasant 
to  renew  our  mutual  acquaintance  again.  His  wife  is  spoken  'of 
as  a  most  superior  woman  ;  I  have  been  much  disappointed  in  not 
seeing  her.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warren  spent  a  day  or  two  with  us,  in 
the  fore-part  of  this  week. 

Your  affectionate  cousin. 

W.  M. 


Princeton,  February  22d,  1839. 
MR.  JOHN  LLOYD  — 

DEAR  BROTHER  :  —  I  have  not  laughed  as  heartily  this  session, 
as  I  did  when  reading  that  "called  in  the  vernacular  tongue"  let- 
ter you  sent  me  some  time  ago.  My  good  landlady,  by  whom  I 
was  sitting,  said  there  must  be  something  very  funny  in  it,  for  she 
never  knew  me  to  laugh  so  before.  I  have  just  been  reading  it 
over,  and  feel  my  spirits  quite  elevated. 

This  has  been  a  great  day  here  among  the  College  students. 
They  had  some  twenty  or  twenty-five  speeches,  (Senior,)  all  deliv-. 
ered  in  our  Seminary  Chapel,  as  their  own  is  not  large  enough. 


LETTERS.  33 

They  have  one  very  amusing  custom  here  on  such  occasions : 
some  of  the  wittier  chaps  get  together  and  form  a  list  containing 
the  names  of  all  who  speak,  to  each  of  which  they  add  a  subject, 
and  the  name  of  some  tune.  In  all  these  subjects,  tunes,  &c., 

there  is  some  allusion  to  some  peculiarity  in  the  speakers 

I  attended  but  for  a  few  minutes,  being  busy  with  my  Hebrew 
and  a  Report  for  Society  of  Inquiry.  We  find  it  difficult  even 
here  to  keep  up  the  interest  in  our  Society  of  Inquiry,  though  the 
organization  is  very  perfect.  The  Committee  meetings  here  are 
almost  as  profitable  as  those  of  the  Society  of  Inquiry,  as  we 
usually  discuss  some  question,  or  have  an  essay  on  some  subject 
connected  with  the  object  of  the  Committee, 

On  the  subject  of  personal  religious  feeling,  I  suppose  I  can 
sympathize  with  you  as  formerly.  It  is  distressing  to  feel  that 
we  ought  to  be  more  engaged  in  the  service  of  God,  and  yet  feel  a, 
deadness,  a  numbness  of  all  the  moral  feelings,  when  we  contem- 
plate divine  things.  In  such  a  condition,  the  word  of  God,  while 
we  see  that  it  has  force,  makes  no  impression  on  us  ;  prayer  seems 
more  like  a  task  than  a  pleasure;  meditation  is  a  tedious,  taste- 
less thing.  And  yet  we  cannot  feel  happy  in  the  world  ;  that 
does  not  satisfy  us  ;  that  cannot  fill  the  aching  void.  But  it  is 
profitable  to  be  left  thus,  at  times ;  for  then  we  feel  more  and 
more  our  own  weakness,  and  perhaps  it  would  not  do  for  persons 
constituted  as  you  and  I  are,  to  enjoy  too  much  of  mere  comfort  r 
we  would  place  our  hearts  too  much  on  the  pleasure,  and  be  in 
danger  of  forgetting  Him  from  whom  it  came.  On  this  subject 
there  is  great  danger,  too,  of  our  making  mistakes,  and,  because 
we  do  not  enjoy  religion  as  much  as  formerly,  of  thinking  we  are 
not  as  engaged  as  we  were  then.  The  truth,  I  suppose,  is,  that 
we  are  not  to  measure  our  standard  of  piety  by  our  enjoyment,  so 
much  as  by  the  steadiness  of  our  purpose  of  self-consecration  to 
God.  The  more  willing  we  feel  to  renounce  all  for  him,  to  sub- 
mit to  him,  to  be  anything  or  nothing  as  he  chooses — indeed,  to 
have  our  will  entirely  swallowed  up  in  his,  just  so  far,  and  no  far- 
theigMo  we  grow  in  grace.  Like  John  the  Baptist  we  shall  say 
of  o^BSaviour,  "  He  must  increase,  but  I  must  decrease."  And 
there  is  a  pleasure  in  lying  down  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  and  yielding 
ourselves  to  him,  which  may  not  be  accompanied  with  tumultuous 
joy,  but  it  brings  a  calm  and  holy  peace  which  the  world  never 
knew.  At  such  times  we  look  on  death  and  the  grave  without 
fear,  nay,  almost  with  desire ;  for,  though  we  are  willing  to  labor 
our  three  score  years  and  ten,  yet  we  feel  that  "  to  be  with  Christ 
is  far  better."  Dear  brother,  when  you  feel  your  heart  so  cold, 
does  it  not  rejoice  you  to  think  that  in  heaven  it  will  not  be  so? — 
that  there  you  shall  know  and  lo'vS  as  much  as  you  wish,  and 
that  these  vexing  cares  and  trying  experiences  will  be  no  more  1 

"  There  is  an  hour  of  peaceful  rest 
To  mourning  wanderers  given ; 


34  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIK. 

There  is  a  joy  for  souls  distressed — 
A  balm  for  every  wounded  breast : 
'Tis  found  above — in  heaven." 

Wherefore,  my  brother,  comfort  your  heart  with  these  words. 
The  Psalmist,  in  his  affliction,  remembered  God  "from  the  land 
of  the  Hermonites,  and  the  hill  Mizar."  There  is  a  land  and  a 
hill  to  which  you  can  refer  with  feelings  of  joy — I  need  not  say 
where  nor  when.  I  commenced  the  preceding  page  with  my  own 
heart  in  the  dust. ;  but  these  thoughts  have  gladdened  it  and  re- 
freshed me. 

I  think  you  will  be  highly  delighted  with  the  Seminary  course, 
especially  the  study  of  Hebrew ;  nothing  ever  delighted  me  so 
much,  in  the  way  of  study,  as  that  venerable  language;  and  the 
facilities  of  studying  it  are  now  so  great  that  any  one  may  ac- 
quire it.  Get  Nordheimer's  Grammar  by  all  means,  and  don't 
think  of  any  other  ;  it  is  a  real  treat  to  read  that  Grammar. 

I  must  close,  but  only  for  want  of  time  to  write  more.  The 
Jefferson  students  here  are  all  well,  and,  if  they  knew  I  was  writ- 
ing, would  doubtless  ask  to  be  remembered  to  you. 

Farewell. — Pray  for  me. 

In  Christian  love,  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton,  April  19th,  1839. 
MR.  ROGER  OWEN — 

DEAR  BROTHER  : — You  are  now  probably  returned,  and  are 
about  to  commence  your  pastoral  visitation.  I  could  wish  to  be 
along  with  you,  to  go  from  house  to  house,  and  step  in  and  chat  a 
few  moments,  and  say  something  about  the  weather,  and  something 
about  the  school,  and,  on  a  good  occasion,  something  for  our  Mas- 
ter,— and  then  pass  on.  May  our  Father  bless  you  in  your  visits, 
and  in  all  you  do  about  that  beloved  school.  I  hope  and  pray 
you  may  find  your  highest  expectations  more  than  realized,  and 
that  the  Lord  will  come  down,  and  make  bare  his  arm  j^^>ur 
midst  this  summer.  Remember  me  very  kindly  to  Profj|^n'th. 
As  to  advice  about  conducting  the  school,  &c.,  I  am  not  competent 
to  give  any  that  would  be  of  much  use  to  you.  I  hope  sincerely 
you  will  still  continue  the 'missionary  talks;  and,  if  you  have  op- 
portunity, it  might  be  well  for  you  to  get  as  many  of  the  people  as 
possible  to  take  the  Chronicle. 

Permit  me  to  congratulate  you  on  your  success  at  the  last  Con- 
test. I  can  do  so,  without  anything  of  the  spirit  of  Society  which 
I  felt  when  at  College ;  and  I  may  also  add  my  earnest  hope,  that 
my  dear  brother  will  not  be  injured,  as  too  many  others  have  been, 
by  the  honors  of  this  world,  which,  though  glittering,  are  unsatis- 
fying ;  though  apparently  full,  are  empty ;  though  promising 
,much,  are  deceitful. 

shall  look  for  you  here  next  fall,  and  I  hope  to  have  work 


LETTERS.  35 

ready  for  you,  when  you  do  come.  You  will  find  some  warm 
hearts  ready  to  receive  you ;  and,  however  you  may  be  disap- 
pointed as  to  the  degree  of  piety  here,  you  will  still  find  many  and 
great,  and  exceeding  precious  privileges,  and  means  of  preparing 
for  future  usefulness,  which  you  would  not  probably  find  els«- 
where.  But  bring  with  you  the  pure  and  glowing  flame  of  piety, 
or  you  will  find  it  difficult  to  kindle  it  here.  As  is  the  standard 
of  piety  in  Colleges,  so,  very  nearly,  will  it  be  in  the  Seminary. 
They  who  are  faithful  or  unfaithful  in  the  lower  sphere,  will  be 
much  the  same  in  the  higher.  I  hope,  especially,  you  will  make 
your  influence  felt  in  the  Brainerd  Evangelical  Society.  It  is 
your  last  summer,  and  I  am  sure  you  will  find  no  greater  privi- 
leges here  than  you  enjoy  there.  That  Society  ought  to  do  much, 
and  you  should  not  confine  your  efforts  merely  to  attempt  to  kin- 
dle the  flame  in  your  own  breast,  though  even  this  you  will  find 
hard  work.  It  is  best  roused  by  active  exertion  in  endeavoring  to 
go  out  of  one's  self.  You  know  our  two  resolutions,  to  "  converse 
with  the  impenitent,"  and  u  to  converse  with  Christians  ;"  what- 
ever you  may  do  about  the  former  of  these,  the  latter  is  worth  a 
serious  trial  again.  Both  had  an  excellent  effect  on  us  that  sum- 
mer. But  I  am  lecturing  to  you  with  as  much  authority  as  if  I 
were  your  master,  and  not  merely  your  fellow-servant.  Did  you 
ever  observe  that  all  the  seven  epistles  in  Rev.  ii.  and  iii.  com- 
mence, "  I  know  thy  ivorks  ?"  There  is  something  curious  and 
worthy  of  thought  about  that. 

Monday,  April  22nd.  Dr.  Brown  came  to  my  room  on  Friday 
night,  and  the  Jefferson  students  assembled,  and  we  had  an 
hour's  talk,  and  sung  and  prayed  twice.  It  was  as  much  as  I 
could  do  to  keep  from  weeping,  when  the  venerable  old  Doctor 
raised  the  first  tune.  It  seemed  like  former  times,  when  we  met 
in  the  Senior  Hall,  and  lifted  up  our  hearts  to  God. 
Your  affectionate  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton,  June  24th,  1839. 
MR.  JOHN  LLOYD — 

DEAR  BROTHER: —  ....  I  am  very  sorry  you  cannot  come 
here  in  the  fall.  To  me  nothing  would  afford  greater  pleasure ; 
for  one  of  kindred  spirit  with  myself,  to  enter  fully  into  all  my 
feelings  and  sympathize  with  me,  I  have  not  found  since  we  parted 
— at  least,  none  like  yourself.  It  pains  me  now  at  times,  when  I 
think  how  much  more  profitable  we  might  have  been  to  each 
other  in  the  Christian  life.  But  it  also  rejoices  me,  to  think  of  our 
seasons  of  Christian  intercourse,  and  of  the  long  walks  we  had 
over  the  hills,  when  we  talked  of  heaven,  and  our  hearts  burned 
as  our  Saviour  met  with  us  by  the  way.  Do  you  ever  now  enjoy 
such  seasons  ?  Yesterday  Dr.  Alexander  preached  on  2  Cor.  iii.  18 ; 
"We  all,  with  open  face,"  &c.  While  preaching,  a  few  thoughts 


36  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

of  the  astonishing  condescension  and  love  of  Jesus,  the  great  God. 
taking  our  nature  upon  him,  and  living  "manifest  in  the  flesh," 
seemed  to  fill  my  mind.  I  could  readily  conceive  of  a  Christian's 
soul  being  swallowed  up  in  contemplation  of  God's  character  and 
the  Saviour's  love.  Oh  !  the  riches  of  boundless,  endless  grace ! 
Yet  it  is  not  often  this  icy  heart  is  thus  melted,  and  oh,  it  is  much 
easier  for  the  flame  once  kindled  to  die  away,  than  to  mount  up 
and  reach  towards  heaven.  Dear  brother,  pray  for  me.  The 
Christian's  life  is  a  warfare,  and  more  and  more  do  I  feel  that 
every  day  must  witness  conflicts  and  battles  sore  and  long.  Why 
should  the  soldiers  slumber  when  the  enemy  is  upon  them?  Es- 
pecially why  should  the  leaders  be  remiss  when  the  danger  is  so 
urgent  ? 

The  subject  of  missions  receives  some  attention  here,  but  not 
what  it  deserves.  Last  term  the  interest  was  considerable,  and 
there  were  twelve  or  fifteen  who  looked  forward  to  the  foreign 
field  as  their  future  destination.  How  flourishes  the  spirit  of  mis- 
sions at  College?  You  have  never  mentioned  this  in  any  of  your 
letters.  I  hope  the  Brainerd  Society  prospers.  That  band  of  bro- 
thers might  do  wonders;  they  ought  to  do  much.  So  we  all 
should.  But  oh  !  how  cold  our  love,  how  weak  our  faith  is  found. 
"  Ye  know  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

Most  truly  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton,  July  10th.  1839. 
MR.  ROGER  OWEN — 

DEAR  BROTHER: — Your  last  letter  contained  good  and  bad 
news.  I  almost  envied  you  the  privilege  of  going  round  among 
those  dear  people,  and  of  superintending  that  beloved  school;  but 
I  rejoiced  that  you  accomplished  so  much,  and  that  the  Lord 
seemed  so  to  smile  on  your  efforts.  May  his  blessing  crown  them 
with  greater  and  yet  greater  success  !  I  wish  you  would  write  to 
me  soon,  and  draw  off  a  little  diagram  of  the  school,  and^|ark 
down  the  position  of  every  class,  number  of  scholars  in  l^and 
teacher's  name.  You  have  been  making  such  additions  to  the 
school  that  I  don't  know  how  you  look  ;  and  then  just  give  me  the 
order  of  exercises. 

The  bad  news  in  your  letter  was  the  illness  of  Mrs.  S.  and 
Mrs.  G.  By  a  letter  to  Griffith.  I  hear  they  are  both  called  away. 
The  stroke  fell  heavily  upon  me,  and  I  was  forced  to  feel  the  truth 
of  the  sentiments  of  a  piece  in  my  Album,  written  by  Mary  Ann. 
"Oh  what  a  changeful  world  is  this,"  &c.  The  news  of  their 
death,  though  feared  for  some  time,  came  unexpectedly ;  I  did 
hope  to  see  at  least  one  of  them  in  the  fall.  I  shall  never  forget 
an  expression  used  by  Mis.  S.,  when  I  was  sitting  by  the  window 
in  their  house  one  Sabbath  morning.  She  suddenly  spoke  to  me ; 
"  Mr,  Lowrie,  don't  you  expect  to  go  to  India  ?"  I  told  her  yes. 


LETTERS.  37 

"  "Well,  I  just  thought  so ;"  and  soon  after  she  said  with  deep  emo- 
tion, "  Well,  Mr.  Lowrie,  we  will  think  of  you  when  you  go  there.* 
My  heart,  was  full,  and  I  could  only  say,  "  I  hope  so."  If  the  spir- 
its of  the  blest  may  look  down  and  see  their  friends  on  earth,  per- 
haps she  and  her  daughter  will  think  of  me,  but  they  will  never 
on  earth  again  see  me  or  hear  of  me. 

"  Yet  why  should  we  a  drop  bemoan, 
Who  have  the  fountain  near." 

And  while  Jesus  thinks  of  us,  and  he  will  never  forget  us,  why 
should  we  sorrow  too  much  for  the  encouragements  of  our  friends  ? 
Tell  me  a  good  deal  in  your  next  about  their  last  days  ;  and  if 
you  could  secure  me  some  little  memento  of  either  or  both  of 
them,  I  would  prize  it  highly. 

Now  a  little  about  myself.  I  was  at  home  in  May  and  half  of 
June,  but  did  very  little  ;  came  back  here  about  the  middle  of 
June,  and  found  my  hands  full  of  business  at  once,  besides  the 
regular  studies  of  the  Seminary.  I  have  charge  of  the  Seminary 
Library,  of  a  prayer-meeting  weekly  in  Queenston,  about  one  mile 
from  the  Seminary,  and  about  two  weeks  ago,  when  the  superin- 
tendent of  our  Sunday  School  in  Q,ueenston  resigned,  I  was  unan- 
imously elected  to  fill  his  place.  The  school  is  small,  but  much 
out  of  order  just  now,  consequently  I  have  much  to  do.  Come  on 
in  the  fall,  and  we  will  have  a  class  ready  for  you.  Last  Sabbath 
morning,  I  got  to  thinking  how  we  used  to  walk  about,  and  go  up 
and  down  those  long  steep  hills,  and  all  around  there.  "  The 
memory  of  joys  that  are  past  is  like  the  music  of  Caryl,  pleasant 
and  mournful  to  the  soul." 

We  have  a  couple  of  brethren  in  the  seminary  going  out  to 
Africa  in  two  weeks,  Canfield  and  Alvvard ;  the  former  is  licensed 
to  preach,  the  latter  is  not  yet.  They  go  to  explore,  and  will 
probably  return  and  spend  the  first  unhealthy  season  here.  I 
feel  a  deep  interest  in  that  mission.  Three  others  go  to  India  in 
the  fall.  There  are,  besides  these,  ten  or  eleven  others  here  who 
look  forward  to  the  work  of  missions,  besides  several  who  are  ex- 
amining the  subject.  Remember  us  in  your  prayers.  Please 
write  soon. 

My  time  is  up  and  I  must  bid  you  good-by.  The  blessing  of 
our  Father  in  heaven  be  with  you. 

Your  brother  in  Christian  affection, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton,  August  21st,  1839. 
To  MR.  JOHN  LLOYD — 

DEAR  FRIEND  : — Your  letter  did  me  good  like  a  cordial.  It 
convinced  me,  though  I  did  not  need  that,  that  there  was  one  per- 
son in  the  world  who  cared  for  so  useless  and  insignificant  a  crea- 


38  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

ture  us  myself;  that  I  was  sometimes  affectionately  remembered 
when  the  lowering  clouds  without  were  but  an  emblem  of  the 
deeper  gloom  within ;  and  when  despondency  seemed  to  paralyze 
the  energies  of  the  soul,  that  still  there  were  those  who  would 
pray  for  me,  and  sympathize  with  me.  It  was  good  news  from  a 
far  country  :  and,  if  you  will  pardon  the  comparison,  as  Jonathan 
stripped  off  his  own  robe  and  gave  it  to  David,  so  did  the  disposi- 
tion and  frame  you  seemed  to  be  in  steal  over  my  mind. 

There  is  not  much  missionary  spirit  in  the  Seminary  at  present, 
and  few,  if  any,  have  lately  decided  to  go  abroad.  Still  there  ap- 
pears to  be  an  under-current  of  feeling  on  the  subject,  which,  we 
hope,  will  soon  manifest  itself  openly.  I  have  not  yet  decided 
where  to  go,  and  do  not  expect  to,  for  some  time.  But  let  me 
whisper  in  your  ear,  for  I  don't  want  it  known,  that  I  look  to  a 
field  nearer  home  than  China,  or  even  North  India.  Don't  hold 
up  your  hands  in  astonishment  at  this — I  mean  Western  Africa, 
the  white  man's  grave.  There  has  been  a  great  change  of  feeling 
in  the  Seminary,  in  regard  to  this  field,  since  I  came  here.  Last 
summer,  at  the  first  part  of  the  session,  there  was  not  one  student 
who  even  thought  of  Western  Africa  as  a  missionary  field.  But 
during  the  course  of  the  last  winter,  one,  and  then  another,  of  the 
brethren  determined  to  go  to  Western  Africa,  and  they  have  now 
gone.  May  our  Father  go  with  them  !  I  look  on  this  experiment 
with  deep  interest ; — it  is  yet  an  experiment,  but  I  hope  it  will  be 
successful. 

My  religious  feelings  are  exceedingly  cold  at  present.  It  is  dif- 
ficult to  be  always  engaged  in  the  critical  study  of  the  Bible,  and 
collateral  objects  of  inquiry,  and  not  have  the  mind  at  times  drawn 
away  from  the  spirit  to  the  mere  letter  of  the  commands.  Yet  I 
do  at  times,  even  in  recitation,  obtain  a  glimpse  of  Him  whom  my 
soul  loveth  ;  and  O,  how  sweet  is  his  countenance  !  The  doc- 
trine of  justification  by  faith  has  appeared  to  me  in  a  clearer  light 
this  summer  than  ever  before ;  and  though  sometimes  the  "  old 
man"  seems  to  revolt  against  it,  yet  it  always  seems  the  most 
glorious  to  God,  and  worthy  of  acceptance.  It  gives  an  immova- 
ble ground  of  confidence,  and  removes  every  reason  for  de^air. 
O  that  we  may  both  heartily  embrace  it,  and  be  saved  for  Christ's 
sake  only  ! 

Write  to  me  soon. 

Your  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton,  December  5th,  1839 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

I  am  afraid  you  will  think  I  am  forgetting  you  entirely  ;  but  I 
am  kept  so  busy  by  various  matters,  that  there  seems  to  be  no 
time  for  correspondence,  or  writing,  or  any  of  the  social  duties. 

We  have  received  forty-seven  new  students  this  session,  and 


LE1TERS.  39 

probably  will  receive  a  few  more.  Much  to  my  gratification,  two 
of  my  most  intimate  College  friends  are  among  the  number.  This, 
with  other  mercies,  makes  my  cup  overflow.  My  health  has  con- 
tinued very  good.  I  felt  rather  lonely  in  leaving  home  to  come 
here,  and  it  did  seem  but  too  short  a  time  to  spend  but  two  weeks 

with  you 

Yours  affectionately, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton,  December  llth,  1839. 
MR.  JOHN  LLOYD — 

DEAR  BROTHER  : — Your  very  welcome  epistle  was  taken  up 
principally  in  proposing  objections  to  Western  Africa  as  a  mission- 
ary field  ;  and  I  was  glad  to  read  them  ;  not  that  they  have  al- 
tered the  current  of  my  desires,  but  they  brought  the  subject  fully 
before  me  again. 

Your  objections  were — 1st.  The  unhealthiness  of  Western  Af- 
rica, and  2nd.  The  prospects  of  usefulness  in  North  India  or 
China.  The  first  is  a  strong  one,  and  even  stronger,  perhaps,  than 
you  suppose  ;  in  one  point  of  view,  and  to  one  ignorant  of  the  facts, 
it  is  so.  Of  one  hundred  and  ten  missionaries  sent  by  the  Church 
Missionary  Society,  in  the  course  of  thirty  years,  a  very  large  propor- 
tion died  in  two  or  three  months,  and  vastly  the  majority  before 
they  did  anything :  yet  the  very  first  one  who  went  out  lived 
twenty-three  years,  and  several  others  shorter  periods.  But  the 
question  is,  why  so  many  died  so  soon  ?  Answer  :  1st.  Because 
of  the  unhealthiness  of  the  climate.  2nd.  Because  far  less  was 
known  of  the  climate  of  Western  Africa  by  medical  men  than  of 
almost  any  other  tropical  country  ;  and  therefore  their  remedies 
were  npt  so  skilfully  applied,  nor  preventives  so  effectually  used 
in  the  first  instance.  3d.  Because  many  of  the  missionaries  act- 
ed exceedingly  rashly  when  they  first  commenced  operations. 
They  came  from  England  and  Germany,  and,  in  some  cases,  with 
insufficient  accommodations  on  their  voyage.  They  commenced 
tUbir  labors  immediately.  During  the  hot  summer  they  preached 
two  or  three  times  every  Sabbath,  superintended  schools  during 
the  week,  worked  at  hard  work  often.  Others,  particularly  fe- 
males, died  of  complaints  not  peculiar  to  any  climate.  As  to  the 
first  reason,  it  is  with  me  a  question  whether  the  climate  of  Africa 
is  at  all  more  unhealthy  than  that  of  India. 

Now  for  the  second. — The  prospect,  of  doing  a  great  deal  of  good 
is  very  flattering  in  India.  But  is  Africa  to  be  left  until  India  is 
evangelized?  Perhaps,  also,  we  do  not  at  all  know  what  the 
prospects  are  in  Africa.  I  am  inclined  to  think  them  very  exten- 
sive. Certainly  our  missionaries  have  their  hands  full,  and  much 
more.  What  else  can  they  say  in  India?  Again,  the  human 
heart  is  the  same  everywhere  ;  yet  I  apprehend  that  there  are  not 
so  many  obstacles  in  Africa  to  the  conversion  of  the  natives  as 


40  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

there  are  in  India.  They  are  a  ruder  people  ;  they  have  less  to 
pride  themselves  upon  in  the  way  of  sciences,  arts,  and  wealth, 
than  the  Hindus  ;  and  we  know  that  not  many  noble,  not  many 
mighty,  are  called.  Tiue,  the  Lord  is  able  to  convert  the  learned 
and  proud,  just  as  well  as  the  ignorant  and  degraded  ;  blessed  be 
his  name  for  it :  yet  still,  do  we  not  commonly  find,  that  among 
the  latter  there  are  more  cases  of  hopeful  conversion  than  among 
the  former?  But  I  have  not  time  now  to  continue  the  subject. 
These  are  some  of  the  reasons,  barely  mentioned,  and  thrown 
together  without  any  order,  that  combine  to  make  me  prefer 
Western  Africa.  China,  I  fear,  is  to  me  out  of  the  question. 
My  life  will  probably  be  short  at  best,  and  I  certainly  expect  the 
greater  part  of  it  would  be  gone  before  I  could  master  that  lan- 
guage. Siam  I  might  like  on  some  accounts.  I  have  talked  of 
India  often,  and  while  my  brother  was  there,  I  thought  of  that 
country  ;  but  it  has  never  appeared  to  me  in  so  inviting  an  aspect 
as  it  has  to  some  others.  My  sympathies  are  awakened  for  Af- 
rica. My  judgment,  perhaps  influenced  somewhat  by  my  sympa- 
thies, speaks  for  her  ;  the  prospects  of  usefulness  call  loudly  ; 
objections  do  not  seem  so  strong  to  me  as  to  some  others ;  and 
"  Here  am  I,  Lord,"  is  all  I  have  to  say  about  this  subject.  My 
mind  is  not  made  up,  and  will  not  be,  till  I  have  more  carefully 
examined  the  subject.  The  Lord  direct  my  inquiries,  and  yours 
also,  my  dear  brother. 

We  are  now  engaged  in  studying  theology — an  interesting,  de- 
lightful, and  infinite  subject. 

Yours  in  the  most  cordial  Christian  love, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton,  January  ^d,  1840. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

....  I  sometimes  find  it  very  difficult  to  refrain  from  quoting 
the  words  of  Scripture,  to  point  a  joke  or  to  adorn  a  tale.  The 
words  are  suggested  to  the  mind  so  appropriately,  that  it  seems  as 
if  we  could  hardly  help  using  them.  Yet  this  certainly  is  a  temp- 
tation either  of  Satan  or  our  own  deceitful  hearts,  and  therefore 
should  be  avoided.  It  is  a  hard  thing  so  to  keep  our  lips  that  they 
offend  not,  and  one  is  reminded  sometimes  of  that  Scripture.  "If 
any  man  offend  not  in  word,  the  same  is  a  perfect  man,  and  able 
also  to  bridle  the  whole  body."  How  inconceivable  to  us  poor 
creatures  it  seems,  that  our  Saviour,  in  all  his  stay  upon  earth, 
never  spoke  an  idle  word  -,  yet  such  was  the  fact. 

Last  Sabbath  I  was  reading  Psalm  xci.  in  the  Sabbath  School. 
The  last  verse  is,  "  With  long  life  will  I  satisfy  him,  and  show 
him  my  salvation."  The  word  "satisfy,"  has  great  force  and 
expressiveness  here.  Men  generally  are  not  satisfied  with  life ; 
they  wish  it  were  longer,  and  when  about  to  die,  they  shrink  back 
from  the  approaching  conflict.  The  life  too  of  the  child  of  God 


LETTERS. 


41 


may  end  here ;  but  the  promise  is,  that  hereafter  he  shall  be  satis- 
fied with  life  ;  and  as  nothing  less  than  eternal  life  will  satisfy  the 
souls  in  heaven,  there  they  shall  be  satisfied.  .  .  . 
Very  affectionately  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton.  January  7th,  1840. 
MR.  THOMAS  W.  KERR— 

DEAR  COUSIN  : — .  .  .  Our  class  is  on  the  whole  quite  a  pleasant 
one  ;  we  have  some  men  in  it  of  superior  talents,  and  I  trust  we  have 
some  of  deep,  devoted  piety.  At  present  there  is  quite  an  inter- 
esting state  of  feeling  in  the  class,  on  the  subject  of  personal  duty 
to  the  heathen ;  and  several  of  the  class  are  inquiring  very  seriously 
as  to  their  own  duty.  There  are  twelve  or  fifteen  in  the  Seminary 
who  expect  to  be  missionaries,  and  from  present  appearances  we 
hope  there  will  be  eight  or  ten  more  soon ;  yet  this  is  not  a  suffi- 
cient proportion  !  It  does  seem  as  if  many  of  our  theological  stu- 
dents were  unwilling  to  examine  this  subject.  I  would  hope  that 
such  is  not  the  case  with  the  brethren  in  your  Seminary,  but  dare 
hardly  believe  it.  Oh  that  we  could  all  feel  more  deeply  on  this 
subject,  one  that  concerns  so  nearly  our  present  and  future  hap- 
piness, the  welfare  of  immortal  souls,  and  the  glory  of  God. 
Among  those  in  the  Seminary  who  have  decided  to  be  mission- 
aries, quite  a  pleasant,  even  a  delightful  feeling  exists,  and  it  is 
good  to  be  with  them. 

I  should  like  dearly  to  have  a  good  social  chat  with  you,  like 
some  of  those  we  used  to  have  in  Canonsburg.  I  look  back  on 
my  intercourse  with  you  and  Elizabeth,  as  among  my  most  pleas- 
ant times  in  Janonsburg;  and  Miller's  Run,  and  the  old  log 
school-house—church  I  mean — and  the  shady  trees,  and  the  acorns 
falling  down  instead  of  gourds.  But  I  am  at  the  end  of  my  sheet. 
Farewell — pray  for  me.  May  the  richest  blessings  of  our  Father 
in  heaven  rest  on  you  both. 

Your  affectionate  cousin  and  Christian  brother, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton,  February  21st,  1840. 
MR.  JOHN  M.  LOWRIE — 

DEAR  COUSIN: — .  ...  I  was  reading Turrettin's Theology  this 
morning,  about  the  tree  of  life,  and  the  comparison  he  instituted 
between  the  tree  of  life  and  Christ  was  really  most  delightful.  I 
could  almost  believe  I  was  in  heaven  partaking  of  its  fruits,  nu- 
merous and  varied  and  rich  as  they  are ;  sitting  under  its  shade, 
and  quaffing  of  the  river  of  the  water  of  life,  that  flows  from  the 
throne  of  God  and  the  Lamb.  Oh  for  that  happy  time  when 
faith  shall  be  turned  to  sight,  and  expectation  to  the  full  fruition 
of  the  holy  joys  of  heaven.  But  alas,  the  language  of  mourning 


42  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

and  sorrow  suits  me  best.  I  know  but  in  part,  and  I  am  sancti« 
fied  but  in  part.  I  see  but  through  a  glass  darkly,  and  eternal 
things  fade  away  in  the  distance,  while  earthly  trifles  fill  the  mind. 
But  it  will  not  always  be  so.  The  Lord  prepare  us,  both  living 
and  dying,  to  glorify  his  name  ! 

....  With  iny  present  views  of  the  holy  ministry,  I  would 
rather  spend  four  years  than  three,  in  preparing  directly  for  it,  and 
certainly  I  think  there  will  be  no  reason  to  regret  having  spent  a 
session  extra  in  reference  to  it. 

I  find  that  in  every  place  I  have  still  the  same  evil  heart,  the 
same  proneness  to  depart  from  God ;  and  I  fear  very  much,  lest 
after  a  while,  the  exercises  of  this  place,  admirably  calculated  as 
they  appear  to  be  for  the  cultivation  of  piety,  should  degenerate 
with  me  into  a  mere  round  of  formal  duties.  Nothing  but  con- 
stant dependence  on  God,  and  constant  renunciation  of  ourselves, 
can  possibly  secure  us  from  danger. 

I  am  more  and  more  convinced  that  the  Bible,  the  word  of  God, 
should  be  the  great  study  of  the  minister  of  God,  and  that  all 
other  studies  should  be  subservient  to  this.  Even  theology  is  only 
valuable  so  far  as  it  gives  us  clearer  views  of  what  the  Bible 
teaches,  and  connected  views  of  its  great  doctrines.  With  a  com- 
prehensive and  extended  knowledge  of  the  Bible  as  a  whole,  and 
in  detached  portions,  we  shall  be  workmen  that  need  not  be 
ashamed. 

Your  affectionate  cousin,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Sabbath  Evening,  March  8th,  1840. 
MR.  JOHN  LLOYD — 

DEAR  BROTHER  : — I  never  think  of  writing  a  letter  on  the 
Sabbath,  except  to  some  intimate  Christian  friend,  or  other  person, 
with  whom  I  wish  to  hold  religious  intercourse  ;  and  it  seems  to 
me  that  it  is  as  lawful  to  do  this  as  to  hold  Christian  conversation 
with  a  Christian  brother  for  consolation,  or  with  an  impenitent  per- 
son for  his  conviction.  Do  you  remember  the  day  of  the  month 
when  we  joined  the  church  together?  I  have  forgotten  the  pre- 
cise date,  but  it  must  have  been  about  this  time  five  years  ago. 
Five  years  !  How  little  could  we,  or  did  we,  then  know  of  what 
should  happen  in  the  time  that  has  already  past !  How  little  did 
we  know  of  the  trials,  and  difficulties,  and  temptations  we  should 
have  to  encounter  in  our  Christian  course.  I  verily  fear  that,  could 
I  have  foreseen  these  difficulties  I  should  have  greatly  doubted,  or 
but  for  the  grace  of  God  should  have  even  despaired  of  ever  strug- 
gling on  for  five  years  amidst  them.  Now  I  do  not  regret  what  is 
past.  When  one  is  once  fairly  through  with  any  difficulty,  he 
cannot  find  it  in  his  heart  to  regret  that  he  has  encountered  it. 
But  to  look  forward,  for  five,  or  it  may  be  fifty  years,  and  to  think 
of  maintaining  a  constant  contest  with  in-dwelling  sin  !  Surely 
it  may  well  appal  the  stoutest  heart.  Yet,  we  may  answer  this 


LETTERS.  43 

fear  in  two  ways.  He  that  has  led  us,  and  fed  us  in  the  wilder- 
ness so  long,  will  not  now  desert  us ;  and  it  argues  great  want  of 
faith,  and  much  ingratitude,  to  suspect  that  God's  feelings  toward 
us  vary  and  change  with  the  transient  emotions  of  our  own  vari- 
able minds.  And  second,  we  go  entirely  beyond  our  sphere  when 
we  think  of  calculating  how  long  we  have  to  live,  and  how  long 
we  have  to  contend  with  Satan.  "  There  is  but  a  step  between 
me  and  death."  We  know  not  that  we  shall  see  either  fifty  or  five 
years  ;  nay,  before  this  letter  reaches  its  destination,  one  or  other 
of  us  may  have  gone  where  there  is  no  need  of  watchfulness  and 
fightings.  How  foolish,  then,  to  harass  our  minds  with  vain  doubts 
and  fears  of  what  we  cannot  tell  shall  ever  happen  to  us.  Our 
duty  is  concerned  only  with  the  present  time.  "  Secret  things," 
except  as  revealed  by  prophecy,  "  belong  unto  the  Lord  our  God," 
and  he  will  direct  them  best. 

You  have  probably  had  these  thoughts  often  in  your  mind,  yet 
the  knowledge  that  they  have  sometimes  had  a  good  effect  on  the 
mind  of  your  Christian  brother,  may  not  be  ungrateful  to  you. 

I  have  to  mourn  my  exceeding  coldness  and  deadness  in  religion  ; 
while  I  have  hardly  ever  had  clearer  views  of  religious  things  than 
for  some  time  past,  yet  it  has  seemed  to  me  that  my  affections  have 
never  been  less  vigorous  than  during  the  same  period.  I  see  so  much 
with  the  intellectual  eye,  which  the  heart  does  not  appear  to  be  at 
all  aware  of,  that  I  must  lie  very  low  before  God.  I  often  wonder 
why  I  am  yet  spared,  and  fear  very  greatly  that  I  shall  never  be 
of  any  use  in  the  ministry,  so  that  often  "  my  soul  chooses  death 
rather  than  life."  True,  this  feeling  of  despondency  is  not  right, 
and  doubtless  it  often  arises  more  from  disappointed  pride  than 
from  true  humility.  Oh,  who  can  understand  his  ways  ! — "  Lord, 
cleanse  thou  me  from  secret  faults,  and  keep  thy  servant  back 
from  presumptuous  sins." 

Did  you  ever  meditate  on  Psalm  xcii.  13?  "Those  that  be 
planted  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  shall  flourish  in  the  courts  of  our 
God."  Does  that  mean  that  those  who  commence  to  live  in  God's 
service  here,  though  it  be  but  a  commencement,  a  planting,  shall 
live  forever,  and  nourish  in  the  upper  sanctuary  above  ?  This  is 
certainly  true,  but  does  this  verse  teach  it  ?  We  are  but  nursery 
plants  here,  soon  to  be  taken  to  the  Paradise  of  God,  there  to 
flourish  evermore.  How  consoling  is  this  to  our  weakness,  and 
doubts  and  fears  ! 

In  the  Sabbath  School  of  which  I  have  charge,  there  are  some 
hopeful  prospects,  but  alas  !  few  and  faint. — The  longer  I  live  the 
more  I  see  of  rny  own  deficiencies,  and  of  my  unfitness  for  the 
great  work, — and  my  faith  does  not  appear  to  grow  in  proportion 
to  the  difficulties  that  meet  me.  How  hard  it  is  to  conquer  self- 
righteousness,  and  trust  fully  and  securely  on  Jesus  Christ  alone. 
Pray  for  me. 

Your  truly  affectionate  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


44  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

Princeton,  April  30th,  1840. 
MR.  JOHN  LLOYD — 

DEAR  BROTHER  : —  ....  Oar  session  is  very  near  its  end, 
and  I  am  heartily  glad  of  it,  /or  I  am  nearly  worn  down.  I  felt 
more  completely  sick  yesterday  than  I  have  done  for  nearly  five 
years  ;  and,  though  better  to-day,  I  am  still  weak.  This  earthly 
house  will  be  dissolved,  certainly  before  many  years,  it  may  be, 
in  a  short  time  ;  and  then,  what  awaits  me  ?  I  can  look  forward 
to  death  without  apprehension,  sure  that  Christ  can  and  will  save 
me,  and  feeling  that  there  is  none  other  who  can  ;  yet  I  feel  often 
afraid  that  so  unprofitable  a  servant  will  not  be  received.  Surely 
it  would  not  be  on  account  of  my  own  exertions,  were  I  ever  so 
useful ;  yet  I  fear  lest  I  have  been  so  unprofitable  as  to  have  given 
no  proofs  of  being  really  a  servant.  But  though  often  depressed 
on  account  of  a  prevailing  sense  of  unworthiness  and  sin,  and 
scarcely  ever  experiencing  much  joy,  yet  I  do  have  peace,  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

I  have  been  often  of  late  at  the  bed-side  of  an  aged  Christian, 
who  is  gradually  sinking  away,  like 

"  The  western  evening  light, 
Which  melts  in  deepening  gloom." 

I  asked  him  yesterday  morning,  if  he  still  enjoyed  the  peace  of 
God  ?  "  Oh,  yes,  constantly  ;  not  a  cloud  is  on  my  mind  :  I  seem 
to  have  no  will  of  my  own,  but  am  waiting  the  Lord's  time."  He 
seems,  truly,  ready  to  depart ;  and  though  his  death  will  be  a 
severe  trial  to  his  family,  and  to  myself,  yet  it  will  be  to  him  but 
going  home.  Were  it  not  that,  perhaps,  there  is  something  for 
me  yet  to  do  in  this  world,  I  could  wish  to  be  in  his  place.  Yet 
not  my  will,  but  thine,  O  Lord,  be  done. 

Mr.  Canfield,  who  has  been  to  Western  Africa,  on  an  exploring 
mission,  returned  a  few  weeks  since.  He  has  been  here  for  three 
or  four  days,  most  of  the  time  in  my  room  ;  and  I  have  had  much 
conversation  writh  him  on  that  field.  He  is  so  well  pleased  that 
he  intends  returning  as  soon  as  the  Board  will  send  him,  and  is 
very  anxious  I  should  go  as  soon  as  I  leave  the  Seminary.  I  cer- 
tainly feel  very  greatly  inclined  that  way,  though  not  disposed  to 
do  anything  rashly  in  the  matter.  I  must  know  before  long  what 
is  my  duty.  What  say  you?  I  wish  we  could  have  a  full  and 
free  conversation  on  the  subject,  for  a  letter  will  not  contain  the 
tenth  part  of  what  I  could  say.  I  think  the  result  of  this  mission 
has  made  it  pretty  certain  that  the  way  is  open,  and  the  prospects 
for  life  and  usefulness  fair  ;  and  it  is  certainly  one  of  the  most 
interesting  missionary  fields  in  the  world.  At  present  I  stand  in 
this  position :  if  I  were  to  offer  myself  to  the  Board  to-day,  I  would 
say,  "  Send  me  to  any  part  of  the  world,  and  I  will  go.  I  do  not, 
however,  wish  to  go  to  our  Western  Indians,  and  would  prefer 
Western  Africa."  The  matter  is  coming  home  to  me  now,  for  it 


LETTERS.  45 

may  be  my  duty  to  offer  myself  to  the  Board  during  this  year  ; 
and  I  rejoice  to  be  able  to  say,  that  I  never  felt  more  willing  to  do 
so.  It  is  a  wonderful  thing  that  such  poor  creatures  as  we  should 
be  allowed  to  do  anything  for  the  honor  of  our  God,  and  that  he 
should  condescend  to  accept  our  weak  endeavors. 

.  .  .  This  is  a  lovely  country  in  the  evening.  I  am  never  weary 
of  gazing  on  the  vast  plain  from  my  window,  and  watching  the 
variegated  appearance  it  presents.  The  trees  have  now  become 
quite  green,  and  about  sunset  it  presents  a  scene  of  surpassing 
beauty.  I  do  not  know  whether  other  persons  enjoy  scenery  as 
much  as  I  do,  but  it  has  a  most  soothing  effect  on  my  mind  ;  and 
yet,  gaze  on  it  as  I  may,  there  is  still  a  longing  after  something 
more — something  higher,  something  holier,  a  longing  after  heaven, 
where  we  shall  have  no  desires  that  cannot  be  satisfied.  Such  a 
view  as  is  now  spread  out  before  my  window  always  reminds  me 
of  heaven ;  and  very  often,  of  our  walk  over  the  hills,  when  the 
glory  of  heaven  appeared  to  us  both. 

Your  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


New  York,  July  27th,  1840. 
To  A  SABBATH  SCHOOL  SCHOLAR — 

MY  DEAR  WILLIAM  : — I  ain  persuaded  that  the  accompanying 
little  book  will  not  be  an  unacceptable  memento  of  a  former 
friend — of  one  who  not  only  formerly  was  your  friend,  but  who 
still  feels  in  you  an  interest  not  easily  to  be  expressed.  The  book 
has  a  quaint  title,  but  it  is  written  by  somebody  who  knows  much 
of  the  world,  much  of  the  heart,  and  much  of  his  Bible.  In  this 
case,  as  in  many  others,  you  will  find,  that  a  plain  title  is  like  the 
old  sign  over  the  door  of  a  rich  merchant.  It  may  not  be  very 
inviting  on  the  outside,  but  when  you  enter  you  are  charmed  by 
the  variety,  the  order,  and  the  value  of  the  merchandise  ;  and  at 
every  step  your  admiration  for  the  occupant  is  increased.  I  need 
not  ask  you  to  read  the  book,  for  its  own  merits  would  soon  in- 
duce you  to  do  that ;  and  I  feel  sure  that  your  friendship  for  me 
would  incline  you  to  do  so.  But  I  do  ask  you  to  ponder  well  the 
contents  of  some  of  its  chapters,  such  as  "  The  Warning,"  p.  150, 
and  others.  You  will  find  them  full  of  weighty  matters,  and,  with 
the  blessing  of  God,  they  may  often  direct  you  in  your  course 
through  life,  and  make  you  wise  unto  salvation. 

It  seems  but  a  little  while  since  we  used  to  meet  together  in  the 
Session-room,  and  enjoy  our  mutual  interviews  ;  and  yet  two  years 
have  passed.  It  would  be  in  vain  for  me  to  attempt  to  tell  you 
how  often  my  thoughts  run  back  to  that  time,  and  the  pleasure 
that  the  recollection  of  my  intercourse  with  my  beloved  class  af- 
fords me.  It  is  a  green  spot  in  a  journey,  the  most  of  which  has 
been  a  pleasant  one ;  it  is  a  flower  of  a  brighter  hue,  and  sweeter 
imell,  in  a  garden  where  many  "  plants  of  desire"  have  grown ; 


46  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

and  though  at  times  a  deep  depression  of  spirits  does  come  over 
me,  yet  even  then  the  remembrance  of  my  former  acquaintance 
with  you,  is  "the  memory  of  joys  that  are  past — pleasant  and 
mournful  to  the  soul."  But  the  probability  is,  that  we  shall  not 
often  meet  together  again.  Our  lots  are  likely  to  be  widely  apart, 
our  occupations  to  be  very  different.  When  we  do  meet,  we  shall 
probably  meet  but  fora  short  tine,  soon  to  part.  Let  not  our 
parting  be  forever.  We  must  meet  yet  once  again,  and  after  that 
there  will  either  be  no  more  parting,  or  an  eternal  separation. 
My  dear  William,  wrhat  would  I  not  give  to  see  you  a  follower  of 
the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus  ? — to  see  you  acknowledging  him  as 
your  Master ;  adorning  his  cause  by  the  talents  you  possess  ; 
seeking  not  your  own  glory,  but  his  who  made  you  ;  pleasing  not 
yourself,  but  him  who  has  done  so  much  for  you.  Let  me  entreat 
you  to  make  your  peace  with  God,  through  Jesus  Christ. 

I  am  sorry  for  your  present  indisposition,  but  perhaps  it  is  sent 
in  mercy,  to  remind  you  that  you  are  here  but  for  a  season,  and 
to  excite  you  to  come  to  Him  now,  and  find  salvation.  Such  is 
God's  usual  object  in  sending  affliction  of  any  kind,  and  though 
for  the  present  it  may  seem  "  not  joyous  but  grievous,  yet  after- 
wards  it  yieldeth  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness  to  them 
that  are  exercised  thereby."  I  need  hardly  tell  you  why  it  is  so 
important  that  you  should  seek  religion  now.  You  know  that 
this  is  the  best  time ;  that  delays  are  dangerous  ;  that  mercy, 
which  is  now  waiting,  may  not  always  wait ;  that  the  longer  you 
continue  impenitent,  the  more  sinful  you  become,  and.  the  less 
disposed  to  turn  to  religion.  You  know  that  religion  is  not  a 
gloomy  thing,  for  what  can  there  be  in  religion  to  make  a  man 
sad  ?  Surely  not  that  God  is  reconciled  to  him,  not  that  his  sins 
are  pardoned,  and  that  he  has  the  hope  of  heaven.  Religion  has 
its  sorrows,  but  the  sorrows  of  the  world  are  far  greater,  and  far 
more  lasting.  Religion  has  its  joys,  which  the  world  knows  not — 
joys  more  lasting  than  time,  more  precious  than  earth's  jewels. 
Peace  with  God,  peace  in  the  heart,  the  joy  of  holiness  and  con- 
formity to  God,  the  expectation  of  perfect  holiness  hereafter, — 
these  are  joys  that  will  remain  with  their  possessor  in  sickness 
as  well  as  in  health,  in  poverty  as  well  as  in  riches,  in  death 
as  well  as  in  life,  in  the  convulsions  of  nature,  when  the  heavens 
are  dissolved,  and  the  elements  melt  with  fervent  heat,  as  well  as 
in  the  quiet  moments  of  retirement,  and  the  calm  solitudes  of 
holy  meditation. 

I  have  written  to  you  freely,  because  I  wished  to  do  you  good, 
and  because  I  hope  your  friendship  for  me  will  induce  you  to 
receive  with  kindness  a  few  words  of  affectionate  counsel.  When 
I  have  gone  far  hence  to  the  Gentiles,  may  I  not  hope  still  to  live 
in  your  memory, — and  may  I  not  trust  that  my  intercourse  with 
you  has  been  both  pleasant  and  profitable  ?  Farewell — may  the 
God  of  all  grace  bless  you,  for  Christ's  sake. 

Yours  most  truly,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


LETTERS.  47 


New  Yorfc,  July  27th,  1840. 
To  A  SABBATH  SCHOOL  SCHOLAR — 

MY  DEAR  CHARLES  : — Accompanying  this,  I  send  you  a  small 
book,  as  a  memento  of  myself, — not  that  I  fear  you  will  soon,  if 
ever,  forget  the  pleasant  times  of  other  years,  when  as  teacher  and 
scholar  we  met  together; — but  because  the  sight  of  anything  that 
once  belonged  to  an  absent  friend,  will  easily  recall  him  to  mind, 
and  often  awaken  associations  that  would  otherwise  have  slept  in 
the  bosom.  And  what  associations  will  the  sight  of  anything 
that  recalls  me  to  your  recollection,  awaken?  Our  intercourse 
has  been  principally  in  the  Sabbath  School.  It  was  short,  but  it 
was  pleasant.  I  believe  our  affection  and  friendship  for  each 
other  was  mutual,  and,  at  the  present  time,  few  things  afford  me 
more  pleasure  than  to  remember  the  hours  spent  in  the  corner  of 
the  Session-room,  where,  with  my  class  around  me,  we  conversed 
on  the  revelation  made  by  a  gracious  God  to  his  sinful  and  lost 
creatures.  And  now,  in  my  occasional  visits  to  this  place,  few 
occurrences  afford  me  more  gratification  than  to  meet  with  any 
of  my  former  class,  and  converse  with  them  of  other  days.  In 
the  'moments  of  gloom  and  despondency,  which  at  times  cloud  my 
mind,  and  occasion  sorrow  such  as  those  who  have  never  felt  what 
melancholy  is  can  scarcely  conceive,  there  are  few  things  that  can 
more  speedily  cheer  my  mind,  and  reassure  me  that  there  are  some 
who  care  for  me,  than  to  dwell  on  the  seasons  spent  in  the  Chris- 
topher street  Sabbath  School.  The  pleasure  I  myself  feel,  in  rec- 
ollecting these  things,  and  in  meeting  with  you,  assures  me  that 
you  feel,  to  some  extent  at  least,  the  same  pleasure ;  for  it  is  com- 
monly true  that  where  affection  exists  at  all,  it  is  mutual.  "  As 
in  water  face  answereth  to  face,  so  the  heart  of  man  to  man." 
Such  being  the  interest,  then,  that  I  feel  in  you,  you  will  not  won- 
der that  I  ask,  "  what  associations  will  anything  that  recalls  me 
to  your  recollection  awaken?"  nor  to  hear  that  often,  when  others 
around  me  are  slumbering,  my  thoughts  revert  to  each  one  of  my 
class  individually,  and  by  name  ;  and  I  think — what  will  become 
of  this  one,  and  of  that  one  ?  Shall  I  ever  meet  with  them  in 
this  world  ?  What  influence  do  the  instructions  they  received 
from  me,  exert  upon  their  hearts  ?  What  deep  impressions  have 
they  produced  ?  And  when  we  meet  at  the  last  great  day,  shall 
we  stand  at  the  right  hand  of  our  glorious  Judge?  Nor  will  it 
surprise  you  to  hear  that  often  I  lift  up  the  silent,  and  the  uttered 
prayer,  for  my  "  beloved  scholars"  in  general,  and  for  each  one  by 
name,  that  they  may  be  led  by  a  gracious  hand,  that  they  may 
be  kept  from  the  world's  temptations,  that  the  instructions  they 
formerly  received,  and  are  now  receiving,  may  be  as  the  good  seed 
sown  in  good  ground,  and  producing  fruit  unto  e.ternal  life. 

I  have  been  writing  of  myself,  and  of  my  own  feelings,  but  it 
was  to  show  you  the  place  you  hold  in  my  heart,  and  to  assure 
you  that  no  changes  of  place,  no  length  of  time,  can  alter  the  in- 


48  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

terest  I  feel  in  your  welfare,  temporal  and  spiritual.  Now,  my 
dear  Charles,  shall  my  fondest  anticipations  concerning  you  be 
realized,  or  have  I  been  cherishing  only  the  deceitful  phantoms 
of  a  mistaken  fancy  ?  Shall  my  prayers,  poor  and  imperfect,  but 
sincere,  be  answered  ?  Shall  my  efforts  for  your  good  be  ever 
crowned  with  success  ?  But  I  forget  myself.  It  is  not  on  this 
ground  that  I  would  urge  on  you  the  necessity  of  seeking  religion, 
and  that  now.  No,  the  reasons  are  stronger,  the  motives  are 
higher.  It  is  because  you  are  an  immortal  creature  ;  because  by 
nature  you  are  a  child  of  wrath  ;  because,  if  your  existence  is  to 
be  a  blessing  to  you,  you  must  be  born  again,  otherwise  it  had 
been  better  for  you  never  to  have  been  born ;  because,  though  in 
yourself  lost,  guilty  and  helpless,  there  is  yet  hope,  for  the  Son  of 
God  became  man  to  seek  and  save  them  that  are  lost ;  because 
he  is  ready  and  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost,  if  you  will  believe 
on  him;  because  he  has  a  right  to  you;  because  he  calls  you  ; 
because  the  Spirit  strives  with  you  ;  and  because  if  you  come  now, 
you  may  find  that  yet  there  is  room,  that  salvation  is  yours  ;  but  if 
you  delay,  the  Spirit  may  be  grieved,  and  take  his  departure,  and 
then  farewell  hope,  farewell  happiness,  farewell  God  and  heaven, 
Christ,  and  his  love ;  arid  then — but  I  cannot  suffer  myself  to 
conceive  the  dreadful  alternative  when  these  are  lost.  Oh.  flee 
from  the  wrath  to  come.  "There  is  now  no  condemnation  to 
them  that  are  in  Christ  Jesus,"  and  you  may  be  in  him  if  you 
will.  "  Ye  would  not  come  unto  me  that  ye  might  have  life,"  is 
the  dreadful  charge  against  those  in  Christian  lands  who  receive 
not  eternal  life.  Oh,  that  you  would  lay  these  things  to  heart. 
If  you  are  laboring  and  heavy-laden,  Christ  will  give  you  rest. 
He  is  an  all-sufficient,  ever-present  Saviour ;  and  amidst  gloom 
and  sickness,  sorrow  and  fear,  he  can  deliver  and  protect  you, — • 
can  bless  and  save  you.  You  need  just  such  a  Saviour,  and  he 
can  fill  all  the  desires  of  your  heart. 

I  know  that  at  times  you  must  feel  an  aching  void  within  you, 
a  desire  after  something  you  have  never  yet  attained,  a  longing 
after  something  that  will  fill  the  mind.  You  can  find  it  nowhere 
but  in  Christ.  He  is  altogether  lovely,  and  the  more  you  know 
of  him  the  more  you  will  admire  him. 

Let  me  recommend  to  you  one  thing.  I  feel  persuaded  that  if 
you  attempt  it,  and  persevere  in  it — with  prayer  for  his  blessing 
— you  will  experience  great  benefit,  and  will  ever  rejoice  that 
you  attempted  it.  It  is — at  least  once  every  week,  I  wish  you 
would  do  it  daily — that  you  take  some  action  of  our  Saviour,  and 
consider  it  carefully ;  see  what  traits  of  character  it  exhibits,  why 
it  was  performed,  and  what  it  teaches ;  or,  take  any  one  of  his  say- 
ings, and  think  on  it  for  some  tine.  I  would  not  say  how  long, 
judge  of  that  for  yourself;  but  do  not  stop  thinking  upon  it  too 
soon.  Take,  for  instance,  the  birth  of  Christ,  Luke  ii.  7 ;  his 
weeping  over  Jerusalem,  Luke  xix.  41 ;  any  of  his  miracles  :  or 
his  sayings,  such  as  John  iii.  36  ;  iv.  14 ;  Mark  iv.  22,  &c.  I  can 


LETTERS.  49 

tell  you,  from  my  own  experience,  that  few  things  are  more  profit- 
able. 

But  it  is  time  for  me  to  stop.  Let  me  entreat  again  your  serious 
consideration  of  these  things.  If  you  ever  feel  disposed  to  write 
to  me,  it  will  afford  me  great  pleasure  to  hear  from  you,  and  to 
answer  your  letters.  I  hope  to  see  you  yet  exerting  such  an  influ- 
ence, and  commanding  such  respect  as  your  talents  entitle  you  to 
expect.  But  seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  his  righteousness 
-and  all  these  things  shall  be  added  unto  you, 

Yours  most  truly, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton,  August  22d,  1840. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

....  The  time  runs  too  rapidly  for  me,  and  in  five  weeks  more 
the  session  will  close.  We  are  but  strangers  and  sojourners  here, 
soon  to  go  hence.  I  have  been  very  much  struck  in  reading  the 
book  of  Genesis  lately,  to  find  how  very  often  Abraham,  Isaac, 
and  Jacob,  with  all  their  wealth  and  dependents,  still  speak  of 
themselves  as  strangers,  sojourners  and  pilgrims.  Could  we  only 
realize  that  "here  we  have  no  abiding  city,"  the  trials  and  vexa- 
tions and  disappointments  that  continually  befall  us  would  exert 
but  little  influence,  and  would  only  induce  us,  like  the  traveller,  to 
hasten  forward  on  our  journey.  And  though  it  be  often  a  painful 
journey,  it  is  one  in  which  we  have  continual  cause  to  make  men- 
tion of  the  loving-kindness  of  the  Lord,  who  accompanies  us,  who 
guides  us,  who  leads  us  often  by  the  still  waters,  and  causes  us  to 
lie  down  in  the  green  pastures.  He  will  be  our  guide  unto  death, 
and  then  will  not  forsake  us,  "  for  this  God  is  our  God  forever  and 
ever."  So  may  it  prove  to  us  all. 

Have  you  ever  read  Mrs.  Hawkes'  memoirs?  I  find  them  very 
instructive,  opening  up  fountains  of  deep  Christian  experience,  and 
displaying  many  of  the  deep  things  of  religion.  She  was  a  wo- 
man of  strong  mind,  sincere  piety,  great  kindness  of  heart,  and 
though  often  in  the  former  part  of  her  life  troubled  with  melan- 
choly, yet  afterwards  uncommonly  cheerful  in  the  midst  of  severe 
sufferings.  The  best  books  of  human  composition  require  you  to 
read  many  pages  to  obtain  any  complete  view  of  a  person's  char- 
acter ;  but  in  the  Bible,  you  will  find  characters  drawn  most  com- 
pletely in  a  single  sentence.  You  will  learn  more  of  their  dispo- 
sition, &c.,  from  an  apparently  trivial  action  or  expression  there 
recorded,  than  from  the  most  labored  description  in  other  books. 

Why  is  this  ?     Truly  the  law  of  the  Lord  is  perfect 

Yours  very  truly, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 
4 


50  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

Princeton,  September  3d,  1840. 
MR.  JOHN  LLOYD — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : —  ....  At  the  time  I  received  your  letter 
I  was  not  very  well,  and  shortly  afterwards  went  home  and  spent 
a  week  there.  I  was  at  that  time  received  under  the  care  of  the 
Second  Presbytery  of  New  York,  and  had  my  pieces  assigned  me. 
My  Latin  piece  is,  "An  Christua  pro  electis  sohmi  mortuus  sit?" 
on  which  I  have  written  an  essay,  and  translated  it  into  something 
that  professes  to  be  Latin,  and  is  so  long  that  it  covers  five  foolscap 
pages.  This,  with  many  and  various  other  duties,  has  kept  me 
very  busy  for  several  weeks  past.  My  health  is  now  very  good, 
and  I  hope,  Deo  volente,  to  be  licensed  next  April,  and  ordained 
soon  after. 

....  I  have  just  been  examining  a  little  insect  on  my  window, 
and  comparing  its  body  with  those  of  other  insects  and  with  my 
own.  It  is  wonderfully  different  from  them  in  shape,  size,  mate- 
rials, uses,  and  objects.  It  has  some  members  I  do  not  possess, 
and  wants  others  granted  to  me.  It  has  life,  though  not  an  inch 
in  length,  and  it  appears  to  enjoy  its  existence.  It  is  but  one  of 
an  infinitely  numerous  class  of  beings,  each  species  of  which  is  so 
different  from  every  other,  that  we  can  hardly  conceive  of  them  as 
possessing  any  qualities  in  common.  Yet  they  have  some,  for 
they  all  live,  they  all  enjoy  life,  and  they  were  all  made  by  one 
great  and  glorious  Being.  How  condescending  must  He  be,  who 
has  so  curiously  wrought  their  little  frames.  How  wise,  thus  to 
fashion  their  bodies.  How  kind,  thus  to  grant  them  life  and  hap- 
piness. How  infinite  in  knowledge  to  know  all  their  actions,  to 
direct  and  govern  all  their  motions,  to  foresee  and  provide  for  all 
their  wants.  Will  He  look  with  indifference  on  men?  Will  He 
neglect  to  attend  to  them  when  they  lift  their  eyes  to  Him,  and 
cry  Abba,  Father?  Surely  not. 

But  how  humbling  is  the  thought,  that  with  all  our  boasted  wre- 
doin  and  vaunted  power,  we  cannot  understand  the  hidden  mys- 
teries of  these  little  insects,  nor  frame  another  like  them.  But 
then  it  is  a  glorious  truth,  that  hereafter  we  shall  know  all  we 
wish  to  know ;  and  our  knowledge,  instead  of  puffing  us  up,  will 
humble  us,  and  cause  us  to  love  our  God  and  Saviour  more.  And 
even  now,  we  may  look  on  these  little  living  things,  and  say,  "  My 
Father  made  them  all."  I  thank  thee,  little  fly  ;  the  sight  of  thee 
has  filled  iny  soul  with  pleasant  thoughts;  and  I  write  them  here 
that  my  friend  may  share  them  with  me 

Farewell. — The  Lord  be  with  you  and  bless  you. 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 

Princeton,  November  16th,  1840. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

Your  letter  from  the  distant  south,  came  to  me  like  good  news 
from  a  far  country.  You  left  New  York  September  30th,  I  left  it 


LETTERS.  51 

the  next  day,  and  had  a  pleasant  journey  to  Philadelphia,  Canons- 
burg,  Pittsburg,  and  Butler,  going  and  returning,  a  thousand  miles 
of  travel.  I  spent  a  most  pleasant  Sabbath  with  the  church  at  Mil- 
ler's Run,  where  my  old  Sunday  School  is.  At  Pittsburg  the 
Synod  was  in  session,  and,  both  in  that  city  and  in  Butler,  I  saw 
and  spoke  to  many  dear  friends.  For  particulars,  I  refer  you  to 
the  inclosed.  On  the  5th  of  November  1  arrived  at  my  old  room 
in  Princeton,  prepared  to  say  with  gratitude,  Hitherto  the  Lord  has 
helped  and  blessed  me. 

I  have  now  got  pretty  fairly  settled  down  to  study.  This  is  my 
last  session  ;  I  can  scarcely  realize  that  so  short  a  time  as  six 
months  will  finish  my  theological  course.  It  would  not  take  much 
to  induce  me  to  begin  it  again.  At  present,  other  duties  seem  to 
call  me  hence;  but  who  is  sufficient  for  these  things? 

I  shall  probably  offer  myself  to  the  Board  as  a  missionary  soon, 
unless  something  of  which  I  know  nothing,  should  occur  to  pre- 
vent. Doa't  stay  so  long  in  the  south,  that  you  cannot  be  back 
in  time  to  see  me  off. 

Yours  most  truly, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton,  December  10th,  1840. 

To  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE  OP  THE  BOARD  OP  FOREIGN 
MISSIONS  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH — 

It  has  been  my  wish  and  intention  for  several  years  to  spend 
my  life  as  a  missionary  to  the  heathen.  Believing  that  it  is  the 
duty  of  the  Church  in  her  organized  capacity  to  prosecute  the 
work  of  missions,  I  offer  myself  to  you  as  a  candidate  for  that 
work;  and  if  accepted,  shall  hold  myself  in  readiness  to  enter  on 
it  shortly  after  the  close  of  the  present  session  of  the  Theological 
Seminary. 

I  am  now  in  my  twenty-second  year,  and  have  been  a  professor 
of  religion  for  nearly  six  years.  The  work  of  missions  has  always 
appeared  to  me  to  beN  identical  with  that  of  the  ministry,  requiring 
the  same  talents  and  preparation,  and  demanding  that  those  who 
engage  in  it  should  be  actuated  by  the  same  motives  which  influ- 
ence those  who  enter  on  the  ministry  at  home.  The  considera- 
tions which  have  influenced  me  to  believe  I  ought  to  enter  some 
foreign  field,  are,  a  desire  for  some  such  field,  considered  as  a  means 
of  being  more  useful,  and  the  fact,  that  while  comparatively  a 
large  number  are  willing  to  enter  the  ministry  at  home,  few  will 
go  abroad.  The  call  from  heathen  lands  is  loud.  It  must  be 
answered,  and  knowing  no  particular  reason  why  I  should  settle 
in  this  country,  I  feel  prepared,  with  humility,  and  yet  with  cheer- 
fulness, to'say,  "  Here  am  I,  Lord,  send  me."  In  addition  to  this, 
the  leadings  of  Providence,  ever  since  I  first  joined  the  church, 
and  particularly  since  I  entered  this  Seminary,  have  seemed  to 
direct  my  course  far  hence  to  the  Gentiles. 


52  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

In  making  you  this  offer  of  my  services,  I  shall  leave  it  to  the 
Committee  to  decide  on  my  field  of  labor.  My  own  preferences 
however  are  strongly  towards  Western  Africa,  and  I  am  perfectly 
willing  to  take  on  myself  the  responsibility  of  going  (o  that  field. 
It  has  been  before  my  mind  distinctly  for  two  years  and  a  half, 
and  before  either  of  your  present  missionaries  to  that  field  had  de- 
cided to  go  there.  Still,  if  it  be  probable  that  my  usefulness  would 
be  greater  elsewhere,  J  shall  willingly  go  to  any  other  field.  My 
health  is  not  robust,  yet  commonly  it  is  good.  I  believe  myself  to 
be  more  in  danger  of  pulmonary  diseases  than  of  any  other,  but 
should  probably  be  less  liable  to  them  in  a  more  southern  climate 
than  this. 

Praying  that  the  Lord  would  bless  and  prosper  the  cause  of 
missions,  and  all  those  engaged  either  at  home  or  abroad  in 
furthering  it, 

I  remain  with  Christian  respect  and  esteem,  Yours,  &c., 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton,  January  2d,  1841. 
MR.  JOHN  LLOYD — 

DEAR  JOHN  : — Your  letter  of  Dec.  6th,  arrived  here  fifteen  days 
after  date,  but  though  long  on  the  road  was  a  very  welcome  guest, 
and  has  been  interrogated  more  than  once  as  to  the  news  and 
state  of  matters  and  things  with  an  old  and  dearly-beloved  friend. 
I  cannot  tell  you  how  much  I  prize  your  friendship,  nor  how  I 
value  your  letters;  but  I  often  wonder  how  you  can  speak  of  me 
in  such  glowing  terms,  when  conscious  to  myself  that  such  lan- 
guage is  so  poorly  deserved.  I  can  attribute  it  only  to  the  uniting 
power  of  our  common  faith,  and  the  grace  of  our  common  Lord, 
who  seems  to  have  fitted  us  so  well  for  each  other,  to  be  helpers 
of  each  other's  joy,  and  sympathizers  in  each  other's  sorrows. 
After  having  been  so  intimately  united  in  College,  is  it  possible 
that  we  shall  never  meet  again?  You  will  perhaps  wonder  at 
me  if  I  tell  you  that  within  the  last  three  months  I  have  been 
within  one  mile  of  you  without  seeing  you — yet  it  was  so.  I 
spent  about  three  weeks  in  Pittsburg,  Butler,  and  Canonsburg  in 
October,  passing  through  Greensburgh.  To  my  very  great  disap- 
pointment, however,  you  had,  just  before  I  got  in,  gone  to  your 
academy,  and  there  was  not  time  to  send  for  you  while  the  stage 
stopped.  I  had  a  great  wish  to  remain  a  day.  but  could  not,  and 
with  a  heavy  heart  I  left  without  seeing  you.  I  hoped  to  have 
found  you  here,  but  the  Lord  has  seen  fit  to  order  it  otherwise. 
When  shall  we  meot  again? 

My  present  plans  are,  to  be  licensed  in  April, — spend  the  sum- 
mer preaching,  either  in  New  York  or  Pennsylvania,— -probably, 
though  not  yet  decided,  to  spend  another  year  in  the  Seminary, 
and  go  out  to  Africa  in  1842.  I  am  now  under  the  care  of  the 
Missionary  Board,  but  there  is  very  little  probability  of  my  being 


LETTERS.  53 

sent  off  under  a  year,  or  a  year  and  a  half.  Nor  am  I,  considering 
my  age  and  qualifications,  very  anxious  to  go  sooner,  though  per- 
fectly willing  to  go  this  next  summer,  if  necessary. 

I  offered  myself  to  the  Board  some  three  weeks  since,  and  ex- 
pressed a  decided  preference  for  Africa  as  my  field.  I  may  be  in 
error,  but  it  seems  to  me  that  the  danger  from  the  climate  is  very 
greatly  overrated,  and  if  an  entrance  into  the  interior  could  be  ef- 
fected, which  some  English  Baptist  missionaries  are  now  trying  to 
do,  the  probability  is  that  we  could  live  very  well.  The  country 
is  populous.  We  owe  them  a  deep  debt.  Their  superstitions  are 
old,  foolish,  and  feeble.  They  have  a  reverence  for  white  men,  and 
would  probably  be  willing  to  receive  instruction.  There  is  a  glori- 
ous promise  that  "  Ethiopia  shall  soon  stretch  forth  her  hands  unto 
God."  Is  not  the  field  white  to  the  harvest — where  are  the 
reapers  ?  . .  . 

The  Lord  bless  thee,  and  keep  thee,  my  brother. 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton,  January  2d,  1841. 
MR.  JOHN  O.  PROCTOR — 

DEAR  BROTHER  : — ...  It  is  very  humiliating  to  our  pride,  to  find 
how  little  knowledge  we  can  acquire,  after  our  utmost  and  perse- 
vering efforts.  It  seems  but  like  a  drop  in  the  bucket  compared 
with  the  vast  amount  of  knowledge  still  unexplored,  and  of  whose 
very  existence  oftentimes  we  are  wholly  ignorant.  What  a  vast 
collection  of  authors  on  every  subject !  How  much  deep  learning, 
profound  with  eloquence  and  piety,  is  treasured  up  in  the  works  of 
other  days,  and  yet  how  little  of  it  all  can  we  possibly  know !  I 
feel  at  times  disposed  to  give  up  in  despair.  Life  seems  too  short 
to  learn  even  all  that  a  minister  needs  to  know,  leaving  entirely 
untouched  what  he  would  wish  to  understand,  but  is  not  compelled 
to  attend  to.  Looking  at  the  ministry  only  so  far  as  mere  intel- 
lectual qualifications  are  concerned,  who  is  sufficient  for  it?  And 
yet  this  is  a  minor  topic.  To  understand  and  feel  the  truths  of  the 
Bible  ;  to  experience  deeply  the  work  of  the  Spirit ;  to  humble  our- 
selves before  God,  and  submit,  our  proud  hearts  implicitly  to  his 
teaching ;  to  become  fools  for  Christ's  sake,  that  we  may  be  wise ; 
to  confide  ourselves  in  Christ's  hands,  and  take  him  for  our  all-in- 
all,  and  to  live  daily  near  unto  him,  and  growing  in  conformity  to 
him — Hoc  opus,  hie  labor  est.  It  seems  to  me,  that  the  nearer 
I  get  to  the  office  of  the  ministry,  the  less  am  I  prepared  for  it, 
either  physically,  mentally,  or  spiritually.  Blessed  be  God  for  his 
promise,  "  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee."  When  we  are  weak, 
then  we  are  strong.  Pray  for  me.  I  shall  look  for  a  letter  from 
you  soon. 

Yours,  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  affection, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


64  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE 

Princeton,  January  26th.  1841. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

.  .  .  How  checkered  and  changing  is  the  condition  of  our  family, 
— some  here,  some  there  ;  we  meet  together  for  a  short  time,  and 
then  we  part.  We  are  drawn  up,  as  it  were,  from  the  sea  of  life, 
and,  like  scattered  drops  of  rain,  we  fall,  some  nearer,  and  some 
further  off;  sometimes  so  close  that  we  run  together,  at  other 
times  scattered  over  wide  lands.  O  that,  like  the  rain,  we  may 
refresh  and  fertilize  every  spot  we  touch,  and  be  the  means  of  mak- 
ing even  "  the  wilderness  to  bud  and  blossom  like  the  rose."  Like 
the  drops  of  rain  too,  we  are  but  for  a  moment ;  we  are  changed 
into  vapor  that  soon  vanisheth  away.  Even  such  is  our  fife — 
"  like  the  foam  on  the  water,"  we  are  cut  off.  So  be  it, — the  num- 
ber of  our  months  is  with  God,  and  our  days  are  determined.  He 
knoweth  what  is  best  for  us.  ... 

Yours  affectionately, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Bedford,  N.  Y,  May  26th,  1841. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

I  have  spent  the  week  here  very  pleasantly.  On  the  Sabbath  I 
preached  twice,  and  attended  a  funeral,  five  miles  off.  These  ex- 
ercises wearied  me  very  much. 

I  have  just  had  one  of  the  longest  jaunts  among  the  rocks  I 
have  had  for  some  time.  After  ascending  a  number  of  small  hil- 
locks, each  higher  than  the  preceding,  and  each  crowned  with  sev- 
eral large  rocks,  I  reached  the  top  of  the  highest  hill.  The  pros- 
pect was  beautiful,  and  on  several  sides  extensive.  Whilst  resting, 
I  began  to  observe  more  minutely  the  top  of  the  hill.  Several 
large  rocks  shot  up  obliquely  from  beneath  the  ground  ;  a  few 
moderate-sized  trees  were  growing  among  them  ;  and  1  found  sev- 
eral little  delicate  flowers — a  violet,  a  little  white  flower,  and  va- 
rious kinds  of  grasses.  What  a  contrast  between  the  everlasting 
rocks  and  the  fading  flowers,  and  yet  both  were  found  side  by  side. 
I  could  not  help  thinking  of  the  way  in  which  the  Bible  sometimes 
groups  together  the  grandest,  and  at  the  same  time  the  most  lovely 
of  God's  attributes  ;  for  example — 

"Thy  kingdom  is  an  everlasting  kingdom,  and  thy  dominion 
endureth  throughout  all  generations.  The  Lord  upholdeth  all  that 
fall,  and  raiseth  up  all  that  be  bowed  down." — PSALM  cxlv.  13. 14. 

So  admirably  do'the  book  of  nature  and  the  book  of  revelation 
agree,  when  they  speak  (.four  heavenly  Father.  Pursuing  my 
observations  farther,  I  found  several  busy  ants  tugging  away  at 
their  several  loads,  a  little  wood  spider,  and  several  delicately 
formed  little  flies,  all  busy,  and  all  apparently  happy.  Yet  though 
so  small,  God — the  same  God  that  founded  the  hills,  and  hardened 
the  rocks — was  watching  over  them,  and  supplying  their  wants. 


LETTERS.  55 

I  admired  the  wisdom  and  goodness  displayed  in  everything  there, 
and  with,  I  trust,  a  good  deal  of  the  spirit  of  a  true  worshipper.  I 
knelt  down  on  the  hill-top  to  offer  praises  and  prayers  to  him, 
whom  the  heaven  of  heavens  cannot  contain,  and  who  yet  dwells 
in  the  humble  and  the  contrite  heart.  Such  seasons  are  like  fore- 
tastes of  heaven.  I  may  never  revisit  that  solitary  place,  yet  I 

hope  often  to  remember  it 

Yours  most  affectionately,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Detroit,  June  24th,  1841. 
DEAR  MOTHER — 

After  leaving  New  York,  the  usual  incidents  of  travel  brought 
me  to  Buffalo  at  7  o'clock,  p.  M.,  on  Saturday.  I  found  a  hearty 
welcome  at  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Lord's,  where  I  spent  the  Sabbath,  and 
preached  for  him,  and  on  Monday  took  the  steamboat  for  Detroit, 
where  I  arrived  on  Wednesday  morning.  I  was  most  kindly 
received  by  R.  Stuart,  Esq.,  and  his  lady.  This  seems  to  be  a 
very  pleasant  city ;  the  upper  part  of  Jefferson  Avenue  is  really 
beautiful.  Roses  are  out  in  full  bloom,  and  have  been  out  for  sev- 
eral days.  I  went  over  to  the  Canada  shore  yesterday,  and  strolled 
up  the  river  two  or  three  miles.  I  saw  a  red-coated  sentinel  patrol- 
ling up  and  down  the  wharf,  and  on  asking  an  American  how  long 
he  had  been  there,  I  received  for  an  answer, — "Three  years." 
"  What  was  he  doing  ?"  £:  Keeping  the  dogs  off  the  ferry-boat." 

In  this  city  a  great  many  people  talk  French,  and  they  have  a 
French  Roman  Catholic  church.  I  heard  a  most  excellent  prac- 
tical discourse  last  evening  by  Bishop  McCoskrey.  It  made  me 
feel  that,  though  I  was  a  stranger  here,  yet  there  were  those  here 
whom  I  might  hope  to  meet  in  a  better  world,  where  we  shall 
know  perfectly. 

I  find  doing  nothing  is  hard  work,  and  steamboat  travelling  is 
not  what  some  think  it  is.  However,  a  little  shaking  in  the 
Michigan  stages,  on  their  primitive  railroads,  and  perhaps  on  horse- 
back, may  be  of  service  to  health.  I  can  hardly  believe  that  I  am 
more  than  six  hundred  miles  away  from  home.  I  often  think, 
and  not  unpleasantly,  of  the  Scriptural  phrase,  "  Strangers  and 
pilgrims."  There  is  a  great  deal  of  meaning  and  beauty  in  the 
verse — 

"While  through  this  changing  world  we  roam, 

From  infancy  to  age — 
Heaven  is  the  Christian  pilgrim's  home, 
His  rest  at  every  stage." 

I  could  not  help  thinking,  as  we  came  up  the  lake,  that  we  pass 
through  life,  like  a  boat  over  the  waters  ;  and  that  the  things 
which  now  occupy  our  attention,  though,  like  the  waves,  they 
may  amuse  us  for  a  moment,  are  yet,  like  the  waves,  soon  to 
change,  and  pass  away.  .  .  . 

Love  to  all.  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


56  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

Ogdensburgh,  July  23d,  1841. 
Mr  DEAR  FATHER— 

I  arrived  in  this  place  about  a  week  ago,  and  though  Mr.  Savage 
was  absent,  Mrs.  Savage,  and  the  members  of  the  congregation, 
received  me  very  cordially.  Mr.  Savage  returned  a  day  or  two 
since,  and  seems  to  be  very  glad  that  1  have  come. 

There  are  a  good  many  cfmrches  in  Canada  in  correspondence 
with  our  church,  not  one  of  which,  as  far  as  I  can  learn,  is  doing 
anything  for  foreign  missions.  It  might  not  be  considered  proper 
for  us  to  do  anything  among  them  at  present,  when  so  many  of 
our  own  churches  need  to  be  roused  up  ;  and  yet  it  would  be  for 
their  own  good,  if  they  could  be  induced  to  take  some  action  on 
the  subject.  Most  of  them  are  small  and  weak,  and  at  present  a 
good  deal  of  prejudice  against  ministers  from  the  United  States  is 
said  to  prevail  among  them.  If  it  be  not  expedient  for  our  Board 
to  do  anything  among  them,  would  it  not  be  at  least  worth  while 
for  the  General  Assembly,  in  their  next  letter,  to  suggest  to  them 
the  importance  of  attention  to  our  Lord's  last  commands?  I  hope 
to  see  one  or  two  of  their  ministers,  before  leaving  this  part  of  the 
country,  and  learn  some  farther  particulars  respecting  them.  A 
few  of  them  contribute  to  the  American  Tract,  and  I  think  also 
to  the  American  Bible  Societies.  Much  love  to  all. 
I  remain,  your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ogdensburgh,  July  31st,  1841. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

I  have  just  received  yours  of  July  28th,  and  as  it  was  the  first 
news  I  had  from  home,  it  was  a  very  agreeable  visitor.  I  have 
made  appointments  to  preach  to-morrow  at  Morristown,  and  at 
the  second  church  of  Oswegatchie,  and  the  Sabbath  following  at 
Evans'  Mills,  so  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  leave  for  home  until  the 
9th  or  10th  of  August.  I  hope,  however,  to  be  home  about  this 
day  two  weeks.  Thus  far  my  visit  has  been  very  pleasant,  and 
profitable  to  myself  at  least,  if  not  to  others.  The  people  have 
everywhere  received  me  cordially,  and  seemed  quite  gratified  at 
my  coming. 

In  regard  to  the  object  for  which  Mr.  Orr  wishes  to  see  me,  I 
suppose  I  know  what  it  is,  and  am  half  inclined  to  think  that  it 
can  be  settled  as  well  in  my  absence  as  otherwise.  My  mind  was 
turned  very  strongly  to  Africa  three  years  since,  and  the  consid- 
erations that  induced  me  to  wish  to  go  there  were — that  very  few 
are  willing  to  labor  in  that  field,  and  that  my  talents  seem  to  fit 
me  peculiarly  for  such  a  people  as  the  Africans  are.  I  like  to  deal 
with  an  ignorant  and  yet  affectionate  people,  who  are  not  self- 
conceited.  My  acquirements,  preparations,  &c.,  seem  to  qualify 
me  for  that  field.  Another  consideration  that  weighs  a  good  deal 


LETTERS.  57 

with  me  is,  that  every  one  expects  that  I  shall  go  to  Africa.  It  is 
not  vanity  that  induces  me  to  believe,  that  both  Canfield  and 
Ahvard  will  be  greatly  disappointed  should  I  go  to  any  other  field ; 
and  I  fear  that  many  of  those  who  know  what  my  intention  has 
been,  will  attribute  any  change  in  my  destination  to  fear  of  the 
climate.  For  myself,  I  should  not  care  about  any  such  suspicions  ; 
but  the  effect  on  others  may  be  unpleasant,  as  it  may  induce  some 
who  have  thought  of  going  to  Africa  to  hesitate. 

There  is  still  another  consideration  of  a  personal  nature.  The 
mission  to  Africa  is  considered  rather  a  dangerous  experiment,  and 
if  I  should  now  decide  to  go  elsewhere,  would  it  not  give  some 
captious  spirits  the  opportunity  of  saying,  that  the  Corresponding 
Secretary  was  willing  to  let  others  go  there,  but  not  to  let  his  own 
son  expose  himself?  These  considerations  make  me  unwilling, 
with  my  present  views,  to  take  on  myself  the  responsibility  of  de- 
termining to  go  to  any  other  country.  If  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee, however,  think  my  services  are  more  needed  in  China  than 
in  Africa,  and  that,  all  things  considered,  I  will  be  more  useful  in 
the  former  place  ;  then  I  have  nothing  further  to  say,  but  will 
cheerfully  submit  to  their  decision  ;  and  shall  hold  myself  in 
readiness  to  go  this  fall,  if  necessary.  I  shall,  in  that  case,  wish 
to  have  it  stated  in  the  Chronicle,  that  "  my  preference  was  for 
Western  Africa,  but  the  wants  of  the  China  mission  being  such  as 
to  induce  the  Executive  Committee  to  change  my  destination,  I 
consented,"  &c.  Such  a  statement,  I  think,  would  not  be  im- 
proper, while  it  would  shield  me  from  the  charge  of  "  lightness," 
or  wishing  to  avoid  an  exposed  station. 

This  letter  you  may  consider  either  as  addressed  to  yourself  per- 
sonally, or  to  the  Executive  Committee.  Mr.  Orr's  statements 
may  perhaps  induce  me  to  take  some  other  course  than  the  one 
above  mentioned,  but  at  present,  I  do  not  see  that  I  can  do  other- 
wise. 

Monday,  August  2d.  I  preached  yesterday  morning  at  Morris- 
town,  and  in  the  afternoon  at  Mr.  Rodgers'.  The  people  seemed 
much  interested  in  both  places.  I  expect  to  be  at  Mr.  Savage's 
Monthly  Concert  this  evening,  and  to  start  on  Wednesday  or  Thurs- 
day for  Evans'  Mills.  I  hope  to  be  at  home  by  Wednesday  or 
Thursday  of  next  week.  Mr.  Savage  desires  his  kind  regard  to 
you.  Much  love  to  all  at  home. 

I  remain,  your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Steamboat  St.  Lawrence,  Lake  Ontario,  July  13th. 
DEAR  MOTHER — 

When  riding  in  the  wild  woods  of  Michigan,  I  found  so  many 
ideas  coming  up,  that  I  concluded  to  write  you  a  good  long  letter. 
I  have  it  all  to  write  yet,  and  the  steamboat  shakes  so,  that  I 
write  like  Mr.  Hopkins  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 


58  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

From  Detroit  by  railroad  to  Ann  Arbor,  it  is  a  dreary  country 
part  of  the  way,  heavy  timber  and  thick  underbrush,  and  any 
quantity  of  marshes.  I  took  the  opposition  stage  to  Jacksonville. 
The  driver  was  a  harum-scarem  creature,  full  of  opposition,  drink- 
ing and  swearing  constantly.  I  reached  Marshall  on  Saturday 
morning,  and  was  most  kindly  received  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wells.  On 
Sabbath  I  preached  twice  to  the  Congregational  church  in  Marsl.ull, 
which  is  at  present  without  a  pastor.  Having  hired  a  horse,  I  left 
on  Tuesday  morning.  The  first  part  of  my  ride  to  Belone,  four- 
teen miles,  was  pleasant  enough.  I  passed  a  great  many  little 
lakes,  and  crossed  a  great  many  marshes,  on  log  bridges.  These 
are  formed  by  laying  together  round  logs  from  three  to  twelve 
inches  diameter.  People  may  laugh  at  these  bridges,  but  after 
they  have  been  swamped  as  I  was,  they  will  think  better  of  them. 
In  the  afternoon  the  road  became  worse,  and  the  country  was  very 
heavily  timbered,  and  in  one  place  for  six  miles  I  saw  neither  a 
house  nor  a  clearing.  I  reached  Vermontville  before  sunset. 
This  village  contains  about  two  hundred  persons,  mostly  from 
Vermont.  It  is  perhaps  the  most  religious  place  in  the  Union. 
Every  family  but  one  has  family  prayers. 

Next  day  I  was  off  early  ;  twenty  miles  were  passed  without 
finding  an  inhabitant.  At  first  the  trees  had  been  cut  down  tow- 
ards making  the  road,  but  wer  lot  removed,  and  the  path 
wound  off  into  the  woods  to  avoi  iem.  I  tried  to  follow  it,  but 
soon  my  horse  began  to  sink  in  t1  soft  ground,  and  then  jumped 
and  floundered  about,  sinking  deeper  at  every  step.  I  jumped  off, 
and  found  I  had  lost  the  path.  After  exploring  a  little,  and  lead- 
ing my  horse,  I  found  the  path  again.  I  soon  came  to  a  place 
grown  over  with  a  broad-leaved  weed,  and  lost  the  path  again. 
Pretty  soon  the  ground  became  soft  and  wet,  with  large  trees  lyino1 
in  every  direction.  I  jumped  off  again  to  make  a  further  explora- 
tion. But  the  further  I  went  the  more  impassable  it  was,  and,  in 
utter  despair  of  finding  any  path  there,  I  turned  back. 

What  was  I  to  do  ?  I  had  come  six  miles  without  seein°-  a 
human  being,  and  had  fourteen  miles  to  go  before  I  would  come 
to  a  house.  I  was  in  the  middle  of  a  large  swamp,  and  no  path. 
It  was  very  warm,  and  no  air  was  stirring  through  that  mighty 
forest.  Its  loneliness  seemed  to  have  frightened  away  the  Tery 
birds,  for  I  saw  none,  nor  heard  any,  except  the  rough,  unpleasant 
notes  of  the  blue  jay.  I  went  back  half  a  mile,  and  found  the 
path  had  turned  to  the  right  to  avoid  the  swamp.  Four  miles 
further  I  met  a  man  with  his  rifle.  I  kept  on,  mile  after  rnile 
and  again  and  again  losing  the  path,  as  it  turned  off  to  avoid  the 
swainps.  Occasionally  I  saw  the  tracks  of  some  one  that  had 
passed  the  same  way,  and  these  were  almost  the  only  evidence  I 
had  that  I  was  in  the  right  way,  for  road  there  was  none,  not  even 
was  the  underbrush  cut.  away. 

While  carefully  looking  for  these  foot-prints,  and  rejoicing  \vhen 
I  saw  them,  I  was  reminded  of  the  saying  of  one  of  the  old  English 


LETTERS.  59 

divines — "  Let  no  Christian,  however  clear  his  hopes,  despise  the 
least  sign  of  grace  ;  the  time  may  come  when  he  would  give 
worlds  for  the  least  evidence  that  he  is  a  child  of  God,  and  in  the 
road  to  heaven."  Other  thoughts  of  the  sa  nu  kind  passed  through 
my  mind.  Sometimes  when  the  road  wound  between  two  swamps, 
I  thought  of  Christian  in  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death.  Then 
again,  when  I  was  carefully  looking  to  find  the  path,  I  thought  how 
anxiously  should  the  Christian  seek  to  be  in  the  path  of  duty, — if 
he  varies  from  it  he  may  be  lost  irrevocably ;  he  may  sink  in  the 
mire,  be  lost  among  the  thorns  and  briers,  or  wander  in  the  wilder- 
ness.— I  came  at  last  to  a  small  cabin  eight  miles  from  Ionia,  and 
reached  that  place  before  the  sun  went  down,  fully  determined 
that  I  would  return  some  other  way. 

I  found  next  day,  at  the  land  office,  that  my  journey  had  been 
for  nothing.  The  land  on  which  the  Chippewa  Mission  is  placed 
had  been  advertised  by  the  government,  but  the  sale  had  been  in- 
definitely postponed.  I  left  Ionia  July  1st,  and  took  the  road  on 
the  north  side  of  Grand  river.  The  country  was  slightly  undulat- 
ing ;  no  underbrush ;  the  trees  high,  and  far  apart.  I  crossed 
Grand  and  Flat,  rivers,  both  beautiful  streams,  and  came  at  night 
to  the  Widow  Kent's,  thirty-two  miles.  Next  day  the  road  lay 
through  a  beautiful  country,  though  thinly  inhabited,  and  with  a 
profusion  of  flowers,  some  -which  were  very  beautiful.  I  saw 
whole  fields  quite  blue  w.  f'jthe  "  four-o'clocks,"  which  R — 
watches  so  carefully  in  your  .  '  le  garden.  Then  there  were  wild 
roses,  red  lilies,  sweet-williams,  yellow  marigolds,  wild  peas,  and 
many  others,  red,  blue,  and  white,  which  I  had  never  seen  before. 
Some  were  very  beautiful,  especially  the  mocassin  flower.  It  is  a 
large  lady's  slipper  ;  the  flower  is  red  and  white,  and  has  a  very 
fine  appearance.  All  this  was  in  the  wilderness. 

"  Full  many  a  flower  is  born  to  blush  unseen, 
And  waste  its  sweetness  on  the  desert  air." 

But  are  they  unseen  7  Is  their  sweetness  wasted  ?  Would  this 
be  consistent  with  wisdom  in  that  glorious  Being  who  makes  nothing 
in  vain  ?  Yet  of  what  use  are  they  ?  Well,  they  are  the  houses  of 
a  great  many  insects.  It  is  said  that  several  different  kinds  live 
in  every  plant.  Then,  their  seeds  are  food  for  the  little  birds. 
Who  can  tell  us,  too,  what  effect  their  perfumes  have  upon  the 
winds  that  sweep  over  these  solitudes,  and  visit,  in  all  their  fresh- 
ness and  healthful  influences,  the  abodes  of  men  ?  Then,  how 
do  we  know  but  that  these  wild  woods  are  (he  school-houses  of 
other  beings,  who  come  down  and  learn  lessons  from  the  flowers 
as  they  spring  up  in  their  beauty,  and  open  towards  the  pure  light 
of  heaven?  It  is  a  very  contracted  view  of  things  to  suppose  that 
the  productions  of  the  earth  are  intended  only  for  man,  and  are 
lost  if  he  does  not  use  them.  But  there  is  another  thought  of  far 
more  weight — thfise  flowers  are  grateful  to  God  himself;  he  "de- 
lights in  the  work  of  his  hands."  What  skill,  and  wisdom,  and 


60  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

goodness,  are  displayed  in  these  little  flowers  !  He  "  clothes  the 
lilies  of  the  field."  Surely,  if  God  delights  in  these  works  of  his 
hands,  they  were  not  made  in  vain — their  beauty  is  not  unseen— 
their  sweetness  is  not  wasted. 

On — on  I  went — saw  some  Indians,  some  of  them  in  tents.  In 
some  places  the  plough  was  at  its  work,  and  I  saw  four,  and  at  ano- 
ther time,  seven  yoke  of  oxen  to  a  single  plough.  I  thought  of 
Elisha,  the  son  of  Shaphat,  ploughing  with  twelve  yoke  of  oxen, 
and  he  with  the  twelfth.  What  was  he  doing  with  so  many  ? 
Was  he  breaking  up  new  land  in  Palestine?  Or  had  he  twelve 
ploughs?  I  reached  Marshall  at  noon,  July  3d,  and  next  day  at- 
tended their  Sabbath  School  celebration. 

The  following  Sabbath  I  spent  in  Buffalo,  and  on  Monday  I 
started  off  for  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  determined  that  this  time  I 
would  see -both  sides.  1  spent  several  hours  on  the  Canada  side, 
and  got  my  face  wet  with  the  spray  on  Table  Rock,  but  did  not 
feel  inclined  to  go  under  the  Horse-Shoe  fall.  I  soon  began  to 
drink  in  the  spirit  of  the  place,  and  to  feel  my  soul  expanding 
with  the  emotions  it  was  so  well  fitted  to  produce.  I  will  not  in- 
flict a  description  on  you  for  several  very  good  reasons.  I  spent 
the  night  and  the  next  day  till  2  o'clock  p.  M.,  on  the  American 
side.  Every  step  about  the  falls  was  as  familiar  as  if  I  had  tra- 
versed them  but  yesterday,  and  yet  it  was  seven  years  since  our 
hasty  visit  to  the  place.  The  little  bridge  on  the  Terrapin  rocks, 
where  we  all  sat  down,  and  looked  over  into  the  boiling  abyss,  is 
broken  down.  You  will  recollect  how  we  all  admired  that  mag- 
nificent scene.  I  felt  melancholy  almost  all  the  time.  Where 
were  those  with  whom  I  had  formerly  walked  over  these  scenes? 
Two  of  them  were  already  in  their  graves.  I  saw  many  others 
there,  like  our  party  was  seven  years  ago — husbands  and  their 
wives. — parents  and  their  children, — brothers  and  their  sisters. 
As  we  did  then,  they  seemed  to  enjoy  their  visit  the  more  from 
the  society  of  each  other.  But  I  was  now  alone, — I  knew  no  one, 
and  scarcely  spoke  to  any  one.  "  A  stranger  and  a  pilgrim,"  my 
thoughts  turned  to  our  everlasting  home.  Here  I  was  surrounded 
with  the  evidences  of  the  power  and  glory  of  God.  The  dashing, 
roaring  waters  ;  the  foam  and  the  silver  bubbles  that  floated  on 
the  waves  ;  the  bright  rainbow  that  played  in  quietness  over  the 
sc^ne ;  the  old  trees  on  the  island  ;  and  the  little  flowers  that  grew 
out  of  the  fissures  of  the  everlasting  rocks — each  seemed  to  have 
a  tongue  to  speak  the  praises  of  the  great  Creator.  My  heart  was 
full  ;  and  as  I  felt  almost  overpowered  by  the  solemnly  joyful 
feelings  of  my  soul,  I  could  not  but  ask — will  there  be  such  scenes 
as  these  in  heaven  ?  The  only  answer  I  could  give  was,  if  not, 
there  will  be  that  which  will  produce  the  same  emotions  that  these 
do,  in  a  more  enrapturing  degree.  We  can  know  the  character 
of  God  only  in  his  word  and  in  his  works,  for  himself  we  cannot 
see.  Here  we  learn  his  power,  wisdom,  and  goodness,  by  such 
sights  as  these.  In  heaven  we  shall  know  far  more  of  these  same 


LETTERS.  61 

attributes.  What  the  works  which  shall  declare  those  attributes 
shall  be,  we  may  not  presume  to  say.  But  if  they  are  not  such  as 
we  see  on  earth,  they  will  be  so  much  more  glorious  that  we  shall 
not  wish  again  to  see  these  mighty  displays  of  his  power. 

From  the  falls  I  went  to  Ogdensburgh,  and  was  most  kindly 
received  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Savage  and  his  lady.  I  remained  in 
this  neighborhood  from  the  20th  of  July  till  the  3d  of  August, 
and  preached  in  a  number  of  the  churches.  Some  of  our  meet- 
ings were  seasons  of  deep  interest,  and  I  formed  acquaintances 
which  I  will  remember  while  I  live.  With  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Savage 
and  their  children.  I  could  not  but  feel  at  home.  I  saw  a  good 
deal  of  that  dear  patriarch,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  and  preached  for 
him  several  times.  I  enjoyed  our  intercourse  very  much,  and  I 
trust  profited  by  the  privilege  of  being  with  him.  And  when 
speaking  of  the  Saviour  he  said  :  "  Whenever  the  Bible  speaks  of 
Christ  by  way  of  metaphor,  it  is  always  with  some  term  expres- 
sive of  divine  excellencies.  If  he  is  called  a  tree,  then  it  is  the 
tree  of  life.  If  he  is  called  a  vine,  then  it  is  the  true  vine.  If  he 
is  called  a  shepherd,  then  it  is  the  good  shepherd.  If  he  is  called 
a  plant,  then  it  is  the  plant  of  renown."  The  remarks  may  not 
be  new  to  you,  but  they  were  to  me,  and  they  brought  to  my  mind 
the  idea,  that  the  flowers  of  the  Bible,  are  like  the  flowers  of  the 
field,  the  more  closely  they  are  examined,  the  more  beautiful  do 
they  appear. 

The  river  St.  Lawrence  is  the  noblest  river  I  have  ever  seen. 
Opposite  Ogdensburgh  it  is  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  wide.  I 
had  a  good  view  of  it  from  the  window  of  my  bedroom.  It  flows  on 
in  its  majestic  calmness  ;  the  waters  are  beautifully  clear,  and  very 
deep.  The  opposite  bank  looks  well  in  the  distance,  much  better 
indeed  than  when  you  are  close  to  it. 

July  31st.  A  letter  from  home ;  all  well.  Mr.  Orr  has  returned 
from  China,  and  wishes  to  see  me.  I  suppose  he  wishes  me  to  go 
to  China.  Well,  I  am  ready  if  it  be  necessary,  but  I  would  rather 
go  to  Africa.  However,  here  am  I,  and  God  is  everywhere,  and  I 
will  go  wherever  he  sends  me. 

August  2d.  My  time  in  this  pleasant  neighborhood  is  nearly  up, 
and  in  two  days  I  set  off  for  home.  Yet  why  do  I  talk  of  home  ? 
"Strangers  and  pilgrims" — such  we  all  are,  and  who  more  than  I? 
I  don't  know  whether  this  lonely  feeling  that  so  often  Comes  over  me 
be  the  cause  of  it,  but  I  love  to  walk  in  graveyards,  and  read  the 
names  on  the  tombstones.  The  influence  of  such  places  seems  to 
come  over  my  soul  with  a  quietness  and  calmness  that  is  really 
pleasant.  When  I  was  in  Rochester  I  visited  Mount  Hope  cdme- 
tery — a  beautiful  place.  The  inscription  on  a  grave  of  a  mother 
and  her  daughter,  struck  me  as  very  beautiful : 

"The  night  dew  that  falls,  though  in  silence  it  weeps, 
Shall  brighten  with  verdure  the  grave  where  they  sleep ; 
And  the  tears  that  we  shed,  though  in  secret  they  roll, 
Shall  long  keep  their  memory  fresh  in  the  soul." 


62  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

While  in  Ogdensburgh  I  spent  an  hour  among  the  tombs.  Sev- 
eral of  the  inscriptions  attracted  my  attention;  some  for  their 
spelling,  others  for  their  quaintness,  a  few  for  their  beauty.  Here 
are  some  of  them  : 

ON   AN   INFANT'S    GRAVE. 

"  Ere  sin  could  blight  or  sorrow  fade, 
Death  comes  with  friendly  care  ; 
The  op  ning  bud  to  heaven  conveyed, 
And  bade  it  blossom  there." 

The  two  following,  also  on  the  graves  of  infants : 

"  Sleep  on,  dear  child, 
From  sorrow  free, 
Ere  long  thy  friends 
Will  sleep  with  thee." 

"  Thus  on  the  rose 

Trie  worm  corroding  lies, 
And  ere  it  to  perfection  grows, 
It  withers,  fades,  and  dies." 

There  is  nothing  remarkable  in  the  two  following,  yet  they  are 
pleasant : 

"  Lo  where  this  silent  marble  weeps, 
A  friend,  a  wife,  a  mother  sleeps  ; 
A  heart  within  whose  sacred  cell, 
The  peaceful  virtues  loved  to  dwell." 

"  Death  to  thee  is  bliss  eternal, 
Our  loss  is  thy  eternal  gain, 
Thou  dwell'st  where  spring  is  ever  vernal, 
And  life  asserts  its  right  to  reign." 

I  was  most  struck  with  the  stone  over  the  grave  of  Mary  Eliza- 
beth, Mr.  Savage's  eldest  daughter.  It.  contained  simply  her 
name,  age — a  little  over  five  years,  date  of  her  death,  and  under- 
neath, 

"  T 'he flower  fadeth." 

August  3d.  My  work  here  seems  to  be  now  done;  I  start  to- 
morrow for  Evans'  Mills,  and  thence  for  New  York,  and  then — 
where? 

Denmark,  N.  Y.,  August  9th.  Now  for  the  last,  paragraph  of  my 
letter,  or  journal,  or  whatever  you  choose  to  call  it.  I  preached 
yesterday  three  times  for  Mr.  Eastman,  at  Evans'  Mills,  and  was 
pretty  well  tired.  These  ministers  have  no  mercy  on  a  wayfaring 
brother  when  he  comes  along.  I  left  early,  and  arrived  here  at 
eight  P.M.  I  havenow  befoie  me  sixty-one  miles  by  stage,  ninety- 
six  by  railroad,  and  one  hundred  and  forty-five  by  steamboat; 
three  hundred  and  two  miles,  to  be  passed  over  in  thirty-six  hours. 
However,  rest  after  labor  is  sweet.  If  we  were  all  as  eagerly  auti- 


LETTERS.  63 

cipating  the  rest  of  heaven,  as  I  am  the  close  of  my  present  jour- 
ney, it  would  be  well. 

"  This  life  is  but  a  fleeting  show, 
There  's  nothing  true  but  heaven." 

I  hardly  know  whether  to  say  "Good-by,"  or  "How  are  you?'; 
I  am  at  the  end  of  my  letter,  and  therefore  the  former  seems  most 
proper ;  but  when  you  receive  it,  I  will  be  at  the  end  of  my  jour- 
ney, and  then  the  last  will  suit  best.  However,  in  either  case, 
I  am 

Most  affectionately  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Pittsburg^  Pa.,  September  24th,  1841. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

Since  leaving  New  York  on  this,  most  probably  my  last  visit  to 
this  side  of  the  mountains,  I  have  been  so  constantly  on  the  move, 
I  have  not  been  able  to  write  to  you.  Indeed  there  has  but,  little 
occurred  that  is  worth  notice.  I  came  by  way  of  Washington  and 
Canonsburg,  spending  a  Sabbath  at  Miller's  Run,  my  old  parish  when 
I  was  a  student  in  college.  It  was  a  time  of  deep  feeling  both  to 
them  and  to  myself,  especially  when  I  told  them  I  never  expected 
to  meet  them  again  in  this  world.  I  preached  on  Monday  in  Can- 
onsburg, and  on  Tuesday  came  to  Pittsburg.  After  two  days  with 
our  friends  there,  I  set  off  for  Butler  and  Venango  counties. ,  I 
spent  the  Sabbath  in  Butler,  and  preached  once  for  Mr.  Young. 
I  need  not  go  over  my  visits  to  our  friends  at  Slippery  Rock, 
Scrubgrass,  and  Big  Sandy.  Very  pleasant  and  very  painful  they 
were.  O  how  affectionate  and  kind  my  dear  aunts  were ;  and 
painful  as  was  our  parting,  it  was  brightened  with  the  blessed  hope 
of  meeting  again  in  peace,  when  time  shall  be  no  more. 

I  returned  to  Butler  on  Saturday,  and  preached  for  Mr.  Young 
on  the  Sabbath.  In  the  morning,  on  "  I  am  a  stranger  in  the 
earth  ;"  and  the  afternoon  on  missions.  In  the  evening,  a  very 
large  number  came  to  the  Monthly  Concert  meeting,  and  Mr. 
Young  and  myself  both  talked  some.  Much  feeling  was  mani- 
fested, and  many  tears  shed.  My  text  in  the  morning  seemed  to 
my  own  feelings  to  be  appropriate,  even  in  this  the  place  of  my 
birth.  I  left  the  place  so  young,  and  have  been  so  long  absent, 
that  my  earliest  playmates  are  strangers  to  me.  I  walk  through 
its  streets,  and  feel  myself  almost  alone.  I  meet  but  few  I  know, 
and  the  houses  of  old  friends  are  filled  with  strange  faces.  The 
school-house  looks  unnatural,  from  the  changes  in  the  neighboring 
buildings,  and  the  thickets  and  the  forests  where  I  played  have 
been  cleared  away.  Even  the  church,  with  which  some  of  my 
earliest  recollections  are  associated,  has  been  removed,  and  another 
stands  near  its  former  site.  In  the  graveyard  alone,  I  felt  at  home. 
How  my  deepest  affections  clustered  over  the  grave  of  my  own 


64  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

sainted  mother  ;  the  letters  on  her  tombstone  are  not  more  faith- 
ful to  their  trust,  than  is  my  memory  to  her  pure  and  lovely  vir- 
tues. There,  too,  were  many  whom  I  knew  slightly,  or  of  whom 
I  have  learned  much  from  others.  How  sweet  the  thought  that 
many  of  God's  children  are  sleeping  here,  and  their  dust  is  pre- 
cious to  that  Saviour  who  never  sleeps,  and  who  has  the  keys  of 
death  in  his  hand. 

Next  day  I  came  to  Pittsburg,  and  after  staying  a  few  days  with 
my  sister,  I  will  set  out  for  home.  .  .  . 

Affectionately  yours,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Princeton,  September  3d,  1841. 

THE    PRESENCE    OP     CHRIST    WITH    HIS    PEOPLE. 

( Written  in  a  book  of  Extracts,  for  Wm.  H.  Hornblower.} 

That  Christ  Jesus  is  constantly  with  his  people,  is  a  fact  de- 
clared with  surprising  frequenc}'  both  in  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments. It  was  He  who  appeared  to  Isaac,  and  said,  "Sojourn  in 
this  land,  and  I  will  be  with  thee,  and  bless  thee  :"  Gen.  xxvi.  3. 
It  was  He  who  appeared  to  Jacob,  as  he  lay  upon  the  cold  ground, 
and  said,  "  I  am  with  thee  in  all  places  ;  I  will  not  leave  thee :' 
Gen.  xxviii.  15.  It  was  He  who  appeared  to  Moses  in  the  burning 
bush,  and  sending  him  to  the  court  of  Pharafth,  said,  "Certainly 
I  will  be  with  thee :"  Ex.  iii.  12.  And  when  David,  in  the  gweet- 
est  strains  of  poetry  and  piety,  sang,  "The  Lord  is  my  shepherd, 
I  shall  not  want ;  yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil,  for  thou  art  with  me,"  there 
is  no  doubt  but  it  was  the  presence  of  the  Saviour  which  he  so 
gratefully  acknowledges. 

For  a  time  Christ  was  with  his  disciples  in  the  flesh,  and  they 
saw  his  glory  :  but  it  was  "expedient"  that  he  should  depart.  And 
yet  he  is  with  his  people  still.  By  his  Spirit,  by  his  providence,  by 
his  own  personal  and  abiding  presence,  he  is  with  them  still,  and 
will  ever  be  with  them.  Almost  the  first  thing  recorded  of  him  by 
Matthew  is,  that  his  name  is  "  Emmanuel,  God  with  us."  His 
own  last  words  on  earth  to  his  disciples  were,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you 
always."  And  this  is  not  all.  His  prayer  to  the  Father  is, 
"  Father,  I  will  that  they  also  whom  thou  hast  given  me,  be  with 
rne  where  I  am,  that  they  may  behold  my  glory." 

That  this  Saviour  may  be  ever  with  you,  my  dear  brother,  en- 
lightening you,  sanctifying  you,  sustaining  you  in  sorrow,  tempta- 
tion and  trials,  making  you  useful  in  life  and  happy  in  death,  and 
glorifying  you  with  himself  forever, — is  the  earnest  prayer  of  the 
writer  of  these  few  lines. 

We  have  lived  and  labored  together  pleasantly  and  profitably, 
I  trust,  for  a  few  short  years.  We  must  soon  separate,  but  we 
shall  meet  again.  Till. Men,  pray  for  me.  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


LETTERS.  65 

New  'York,  November  30th,  1811. 
MR.  JOHN  O.  PROCTOR — • 

DSAK  BROTHER: — You  will  probably  begin  before  now  to  sup- 
pose, that  amid  the  many  cares  and  labors  preparatory  to  a  final 
fare  xv  el  I  to  home  and  country,  I  have  forgotten  you  ;  but  I  have 
not.  I  often  think  with  great  pleasure  ofethe  few  days  spent  in 
Carlisle  a  year  ago.  How  soon  our  pleasures  vanish  !  yet  when 
they  are  rational,  and  especially  when  they  are  Christian,  they 
leave  a  savor  behind  them  that  survives  their  freshness,  like  the 
rose,  which,  though  withered,  still  yields  its  fragrant  perfumes. 

My  ordination  took  place  Tuesday^  November  9th,  and  the 
farewell  meeting  was  held  last  Sabbath  night  in  Dr.  Spring's 
church.  Addresses  were  made  by  Dr.  Spring,  my  father,  and 
myself.  I  feel  at  present  very  cheerful,  and  think  I  have  seldom 
passed  my  time  so  pleasantly  as  within  the  last  two  months ;  yet 
it  is  not  insensibility,  nor  want  of  affection  to  home  and  friends, 
that  makes  me  so  cheerful ;  for  tears  will  flow  at  times  at  the 
thought  of  going  far  off,  no  more  to  return.  Who  knows  what  a 
day  may  bring  forth  ?  I  am  going  out  into  the  wide  world,  ex- 
pecting to  be  gone  for  life  ;  yet  I  know  not  but  that  a  very  few 
years  may  see  me  again  at  home.  However,  that  is  not  probable  ; 
and  now  I  do  not  desire  it.  It  is  a  responsible  step  I  am  taking, 
and  I  never  felt  more  in  need  of  sustaining  grace,  and  of  the  pray- 
ers of  my  friends  to  secure  that  grace  for  me. 

Dec.  9th.  The  time  of  sailing  is  still  uncertain.  However,  such 
a  disappointment  is  not  very  grievous,  for  it  gives  the  opportunity 
of  being  more  at  home ;  yet  /  should  not  talk  of  Acme,  for  there 
will  soon  be  no  such  place  in  the  wide  world  for  me  ;  and,  indeed, 
for  many  years,  I  have  spent  but  little  of  my  time  at  home.  Long 
a  wanderer,  I  am  a  stranger  in  the  place  of  rny  birth,  where  I 
spent  my  boyish  days.  When  1  was  out  there  this  fall,  I  felt 
alone  as  I  walked  through  the  streets,  for  a  generation  had  grown 
up  that  knew  me  not,  and  almost  all  my  old  playmates  were 
gone :  some  were  dead  ;  others  married  and  settled  in  life ;  others 
moved  far  away  ;  and,  save  here  and  there  a  gray-haired  patriarch 
or  a  mother  in  Israel,  I  knew  veiy  few.  I  went  into  the  church 
where  my  grandfather  preached,  and  my  parents  had  worshipped, 
and  felt  that  I  was  almost  alone  ;  and  I  preached  on  the  text,  "  I 
am  a  stranger  in  the  earth,"  for  no  other  passage  of  Scripture 
seemed  to  suit  my  own  feelings  so  well.  Now  ''the  world  is  all 
before  me,  where  to  choose  my  place  of  rest,  and  Providence  my 
guide  ;"  though  the  poet  was  wrong  there,  for  men  can  no  more 
find  a  place  of  rest  in  this  fleeting  world,  than  the  dove  could  find 
rest  for  the  sole  of  her  foot,  when  the  waters  of  the  deluge  rolled 
round  the  earth.  Like  her  we  must  fly,  and  that  towards  heaven, 
if  we  would  avoid  being  buried  in  the  waves  of  worldliness  and 
spiritual  death.  Blessed  be  God,  there  is  for  us,  also,  an  ark, 
where  the  weary  may  resort  for  shelter  and  defence,  when  the 

5 


66  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

storm  is  abroad ;  and  when  the  heavens  and  the  earth  shall  have 
passed  away,  we  may  still  repose  with  unshaken  confidence  on 
him  who  now  walks  on  the  waves  that  threaten  to  engulph  us, 
and  who  then  shall  be  our  everlasting  portion  ?  I  did  not  intend 
to  have  talked  so  much  about  myself,  but  at  present  nothing  else 
occurred  to  me  that  I  thought  would  interest  you.  1  shall  hope 
to  hear  from  you  very  soon  after  I  get.  to  Singapore.  Pray  for 
inc. 

Your  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWKIE. 


New  York,  December  29th,  1841. 
MR.  JOHN  LLOYD — 

DEAR  BROTHER  : — 1  expected  long  ere  this  to  have  been  on  my 
way,  but  I  am  yet  detained,  and  having  a  spare  hour  this  after- 
noon, I  can  spend  it  yt-ry  pleasantly  in  having  a  talk  with  you ; 
though  unfortunately,  the  talking  must  be  all  on  one  side.  The 
Huntress,  which  was  to  have  gone  a  month  ago,  will  hardly  get 
off  in  less  than  two  weeks  from  the  present  time.  I  am  now  all 
ready,  or  could  be  ready  at  a  few  hours'  notice ;  and  as  my  mind 
has  become  familiarized  to  the  idea  of  departure,  I  begin  to  wish 
that  it  were  over.  As  to  my  "  feelings"  in  the  prospect  of  departure, 
which  you  are  so  anxious  to  know,  they  are  really  so  commonplace 
th  .t  they  are  scarcely  worth  the  writing.  I  could  hardly  help  be- 
ing amused  at  the  way  in  which  you  asked  me  to  tell  you  what 
my  feelings  were  at  present ;  you  seemed  to  attribute  so  much  im- 
portance to  them.  I  did  not  say  much  about  my  feelings,  &c..  in 
my  last  letters  to  you,  because  I  had  not  time,  and  did  not  feel 
then  just  in  the  humor  for  that  kind  of  writing.  To  tell  the  truth, 
there  are  so  few  persons  to  whom  I  care  about  telling  my  feelings, 
either  orally  or  by  letter,  that  lately  I  have  got  much  out  of  the 
habit  of  saying  anything  about  those  deeper  feelings  that  are 
known  only  to  God,  and  my  own  soul. 

Another  thing  that  makes  me  say  less  about  them  is,  that  I 
have  learned  not  to  rely  upon  them  so  much  as  once  I  did  ;  and 
indeed.  I  so  often  find  it  necessary  to  act  without,  and  even  against 
feelings,  from  a  sense  of  duty,  that  this  makes  me  less  careful 
about  them.  They  are  certainly  important ;  when  we  are  in  a 
proper  "  frame,"  and  our  "  feelings"  are  urged  on  by  a  favorable 
impulse,  there  is  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  connected  with  them. 
But  too  much  dependence  upon  them  will  often  unfit  us  for  duty. 
A  man's  feelings  may  take  their  color  from  many  things  besides 
his  religious  state.  He  may  be  melancholy,  from  a  low  state  of 
health,  when  he  thinks  it  is  a  sense  of  sin  that  makes  him  sad. 
He  may  be  cheerful  and  feel  very  grateful,  as  he  supposes,  from  a 
6en.se  of  God's  favor ;  and  yet  the  greater  part  of  his  joy  shall  be 
caused  by  the  mere  flow  of  animal  spirits.  Our  feelings  arise 
very  often,  indeed,  from  something  in  ourselves;  but  our  standard 


LETTERS.  67 

of  duty  is  not  anything  in  ourselves,  but  the  eternal  word  of  God. 
That  is  liable  to  no  changes,  and  does  not  fluctuate  with  the  ever- 
varying  tide  of  human  passion,  but  flows  on  ever  the  same.  I  do 
not  undervalue  the  importance  of  feelings;  they  are  like  the  per- 
fumes that  sweeten  the  gales  which  waft  us  on  our  course  ;  and  at 
times  they  may  even  be  compared  to  the  gales  that  assist  the  gal- 
ley-slave, as  he  toils  at  his  oars.  But  we  are  rowing  up  stream, 
and  it  will  not  do  for  us  to  lie  on  our  oars,  every  time  the  breeze 
lulls.  "Time  and  tide  wait  for  no  man,"  arid  we,  on  the  other 
hand,  in  our  heavenly  course,  must  toil  on  without  waiting  for 
time  or  tide,  or  wind  or  wave.  "  Faint,  yet  pursuing."  As  John 
Bunyan  says  of  religion  among  men,  so  may  it  be  said  of  religion 
in  the  heart.,  "  We  must  own  religion  in  his  rags,  as  well  as  when 
in  his  silver  slippers,  and  stand  by  him  too  when  bound  in  irons, 
as  well  as  when  he  walketh  the  streets,  with  applause." 

But  I  did  not  intend  to  write  so  long  a  lecture  on  the  feelings, 
nor  do  I  want  you  to  understand  that  I  will  not  tell  you  my  feelings, 
nor  be  glad  to  hear  yours : — far  from  it ;  for  some  of  the  pleasant- 
est  hours  I  have  ever  spent,  have  been  when  communing  with 
you,  as  we  told  each  other  what  the  Lord  had  done  for  our  souls. 
I  do  think,  however,  that  you  attach  more  importance  to  the  state 
of  your  feelings,  than  you  ought ;  and  hence,  one  reason  why  your 
harp  is  so  often  tuned  to  the  notes  of  woe.  I  have  often  been 
struck  with  the  remarks  of  Dr.  Doddridge.  in  his  Rise  and  Pro- 
gress, chapter  xxii.  §2,— "Religion  consists  chiefly  in  the  resolu- 
tion of  the  will  for  God,"  tfcc.  That  section  is  well  worthy  of 
your  attention.  But  I  must  stop  writing  on  this  subject,  or  it  will 
fill  up  my  whole  letter,  and  I  have  a  good  deal  more  to  say. 

This  (December  29th)  is  the  ever-memorable  day  in  my  history, 
when  a  "  hope  of  heaven  first  budded  in  my  heart."  Seven  years 
have  rolled  away  since  then.  It  seemed  a  long  time  then,  to  look 
forward  seven  years  ;  now,  to  look  back,  how  short !  I  have  been 
looking  backward  to-day,  arid,  amidst  much  that  is  painful  and 
humiliating,  I  find  also  much  that  is  very  pleasant.  I  think  that 
the  most  delightful  object  on  which  I  fix  my  eyes,  during  all  that 
time,  is  the  walk  you  and  I  had  one  early  spring  morning,  over 
the  hills  about  Canonsburg.  We  talked  of  heaven,  and  it  seemed 
as  if  while  we  talked  heaven  was  opened,  and  we  could  see  its 
glories.  Perhaps  you  have  forgotten  the  time,  but  it  seems  to  me 
I  never  shall.  Every  time  I  think  of  it,  the  scene  comes  up  vividly 
before  my  mind.  "I  remember  thee,  oh  my  God,  from  the  hill 
Mizar."  Shall  we  ever  enjoy  another  such  hour?  I  almost  fear 
at  times,  that  added  years  have  taken  from  me  the  power  of  ap- 
preciating so  sensibly  the  pleasures  enjoyed  in  the  days  of  my  "  first 
love."  Perhaps  it  is  best  they  should.  At  any  rate,  the  instability 
of  youth  is  well  exchanged  for  the  sobriety  of  fiper  years,  when 
the  latter  adds  to  our  capacity  for  glorifying  our  Father  in  heaven, 
even  though  it  may  take  away  the  sense  of  novelty  and  delight 
once  experienced.  I  have  been  trying  to  look  forward  seven  years, 


- 


68  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

but  who  knoweth  what  a  day  may  bring  forth  ?  I  cnn  see  noth- 
ing certainly,  yet  I  can  imagine  enough  to  make  me  tremble. 
What  should  such  creatures  as  we  are  do.  if  we  had  not  an  Al- 
mighty Saviour  near? 

I  feel  very  much  disappointed  at  not  having  seen  you,  and 
would  ask  you  to  come  over  new  year's  day;  but  I  shall  be  out 
of  the  city  for  two  or  three  days  about  that  time.  Farewell. 

Your  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


New  York,  January  4th,  1842. 
MRS.  ANN  PORTER — 

MY  DEAR  AUNT  : — I  have  been  intending  for  some  time  past 
to  write  you  a  sort  of  farewell  letter  before  my  departure,  but  have 
not  till  now  found  a  fitting  opportunity.  It  was  with  much  sor- 
row, that  I  said  good-by  to  you  all,  and  for  a  good  while  afterwards 
I  felt  very  miserable,  and  the  tears  would  start  into  my  eyes.  The 
next  week  I  spent  at  Pittsburg.  and  preached  on  Sabbath  in  Mr. 
Dunlap's  church.  On  Tuesday  I  left  Pittsburg  and  said  good-by 
to  all  my  friends. 

I  suppose  we  all  feel  more  easy  about  my  going,  from  having 
had  so  much  time  to  look  so  nearly  at  it.  It  has  seemed  now  for 
a  month  past,  as  if  I  were  going  off  in  a  week  or  two,  and  thus 
we  have  got  used  to  the  idea.  However,  it  will  perhaps  be  hard 
enough  yet  when  the  time  comes.  But  so  many  mercies  have 
crowded  all  my  past  life  and  fill  my  present  prospects,  that  I  some- 
times tremble  at  the  load  of  obligation  that  is  laid  upon  me.  It  is 
very  strange  how  unthankful  we  are  for  our  blessings.  .  .  . 

I  often  think  of  you  all,  and  would  like  to  know  how  you  are, 
but  am  afraid  it  is  too  late  now  to  get  an  answer  to  this  before  I 
sail.  But  will  not  some  of  you  write  to  me  once  in  a  while  ?  You 
know  what  is  said  in  Proverbs,  chap.  xxv.  25.  I  trust  you  do  not 
forget  to  pray  for  the  missionaries,  and  for  me.  But  I  must  say 
farewell — and  may  the  blessing  of  God  rest  upon  you,  my  dear 
aunt,  and  all  yours. 

Your  affectionate  nephew, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


New  York,  January  llth,  1842. 
REV.  THOMAS  W.  KERR — 

MY  DEAR  COUSIN  : — I  expected  to  have  been  on  the  other  side 
of  the  equator  before  now,  but  as  yet  I  am  at  home,  the  ship  hav- 
ing been  detained  by  one  thing  or  another  for  five  weeks.  Friends 
have  all  been  very  kind  to  me,  and  I  have  sometimes  begun  to 
think  myself  "  some  great  one,"  from  the  attendon  I  receive  in 
many  places.  This  is  one  of  the  evils  and  trials  of  a  missionary 
life.  The  Church  has  not  yet  arrived  at  that  state  in  which  she 


LETTERS.  69 

ought,  to  be  in  regard  to  missionary  operations.  She  yet.  looks 
upjn  them  almost  as  works  of  supererogation,  and  consequently 
regards  with  too  much  favor,  in  some  respects,  those  who  go  as 
missionaries.  I  say  in  some  respects,  because,  strange  as  it  may 
se,-Mn,  some  of  the  very  persons  who  almost  canonize  a  missionary 
when  he  is  among  them,  and  speak  of  his  going  abroad  in  the 
most  exalted  terms,  are  among  the  very  first  to  forget  him  whea 
he  is  gone,  and  the  most  careless  in  praying  for  him.  even  though 
they  resolve  and  promise  not  to  forget  to  "make  mention  of  him 
in  their  prayers." 

I  am  becoming  more  and  more  of  the  opinion,  that  it  is  in  vain 
to  expect  the  present  generation  of  Christians  to  do  their  duty  in 
the  work  of  missions.  I  do  not  say  this  in  a  spirit  of  censoriousness, 
because  I  am  aware  of  the  many  reasons  they  bring  to  justify 
themselves;  but' from  a  growing  conviction,  that  unless  the  sub- 
ject of  missions  is  early  impressed  on  the  minds  of  children,  and 
unless  habits  of  self-denial  and  liberality  for  and  to  the  heathen 
are  encouraged  in  them,  it  is  in  vain  to  expect  that  they  will,  when 
they  grow  up,  perform  in  any  tolerable  degree  the  duties  to  the 
heal  hen  that  may  be  expected  of  them.  It  is  not  ordinarily  to  be 
expected  that  those  who  grow  up  with  the  money-getting,  and 
money-loving,  and  money-saving  propensities  of  most  men,  should 
be  prompted  or  induced  by  the  ordinary  motives  to  give  freely  of 
their  worldly  goods  for  the  benefit  of  those,  of  whose  condition  they 
know  almost  nothing.  I  have  often  wondered,  when  I  have  heard 
an  eloquent  missionary  sermon,  or  have  myself  presented  as  strongly 
as  I  knew  how,  the  motives,  that  with  me  are  all-powerful  and 
which  constrain  me  to  sacrifice  so  much,  and  yet  have  found  that 
men  and  even  Christians,  gave  only  the  coppers  to  the  heathen, 
and  kept  the  gold  and  the  jewels  to  themselves.  They  said,  "Be 
ye  warmed,  be  ye  fed,"  and  yet  actually  they  gave  nothing  what- 
ever to  further  the  accomplishment  of  their  good  words.  Hence  it 
seems  to  me,  if  I  were  pastor  of  a  church,  I  would  at  once,  or  at 
least  as  soon  as  I  dared,  commence  in  my  Sabbath  School.  If 
the  superintendent  and  teachers  could  not,  or  would  not,  I  would 
myself  as  often  as  possible,  say  once  a  month,  give  the  children 
so:ne  ideas  on  the  state  of  the  heathen,  their  superstitions,  spiritual 
condition  and  prospects,  the  way  and  history  of  the  means  used  to 
benefit  them,  &c.,  and  by  degrees,  yet  as  speedily  as  prudence 
would  allow,  I  would  endeavor  to  get  them  in  the  habit  of  saving 
their  pennies,  and  giving  them  at  stated  times,  to  the  Missionary 
Society.  I  would  try  to  keep  up  a  constant  interest  in  the  sub- 
ject among  them,  and  this  I  am  persuaded  could  be  done  just  as 
easily  as  an  interest  can  be  kept  up  in  religion  generally ;  though 
it  must  be  admitted,  that  to  keep  up  such  an  interest  would  require 
constant  attention  and  labor  on  the  part  of  the  pastor.  But  the 
result  would  repay  the  labor.  As  the  children  grew  up  I  would 
endeavor  to  follow  them,  make  them  not  only  recipients,  but 
communicants,  of  a  missionary  spirit.  Such  is  an  outline  of  rny 


70  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.   LOWRIE. 

plan  ;  what  do  you  think  of  it?  If  you  approve  it,  suppose  you 
adopt  it,  and  after  a  year  or  two  of  trial,  and  making  such  altera- 
tions as  experience  may  suggest,  suppose  you  try  to  get  your 
fellow  presbyters  to  engage  in  the  same  kind  of  work.  Suppose 
that  in  addition  to  the  great,  work  of  preaching  the  gospel,  you 
make  this  the  second  object  of  your  attention,  and  pursue  it  steadily, 
until  you  are  sure  either  of  success,  or  of  its  failure.  I  make  this 
proposal  seriously,  because  I  am  sure  that  if  you  should  diligently 
follow  it  out,  you  could  do  wonders.  Nay,  I  hope  you  will  not 
take  it  amiss,  if  I  leave  it  as  my  last  request  to  you,  and  as,  if  you 
will  allow  me  to  say  so,  a  solemn  charge  to  you,  not  to  pass  it 
over  without  careful  and  prayerful  consideration.  I  did  not  intend, 
when  I  commenced  this  letter,  to  have  said  a  word  on  this  subject, 
but  it  opened  up  before  me  so  strongly  and  vividly,  that  I  could 
not  but  present  it.  to  you.  I  will  be  glad  to  make  this  a  subject 
of  special  correspondence  with  you,  and  if  you  should  undertake 
it,  I  will  try  to  write  you  a  letter  once  a  year,  additional,  that 
you  could  use  in  someway  in  your  remarks  to  the  children.  It,  is 
a  subject  that  I  have  long  thought,  very  important,  and  now  I  am 
more  than  ever  convinced  of  its  importance.  Write  to  me  particu- 
larly on  it,  arid  1  will  say  more  than  I  can  in  this  short  and  hur- 
ried communication.  Farewell,  and  the  blessing  of  God  be  with 
you  both. 

Yours  affectionately. 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


New  York,  January  18th,  1842. 
MR.  JOHN  M.  LOWRTE — 

DEAR  COUSIN  : — After  long  delay,  the  .Huntress  is  to  sail  to- 
morrow. We  are  all  well  here,  and  I  believe  all  in  good  spirits. 
Very  seldom  have  I  found  my  own  mind  so  perfectly  calm  and 
peaceful,  as  it  has  been  since  last  Friday.  The  Sabbath  was  to 
me  one  of  my  bright  days,  or  rather,  as  I  very  seldom  have  bright, 
dazzling  days,  it  was  one  of  those  calm,  peaceful  days,  when  the 
soul  rises  insensibly  above  the  world,  and  dwells  with  the  assur- 
ance of  faith  on  unseen  realities.  Unexpectedly  to  me,  but  very 
gratefully,  it  was  communion  Sabbath  in  Mr.  Smith's  church,  the 
church  of  which  I  have  been  a  member  here.  He  preached  an 
excellent  sermon  in  the  morning  on  "As  oft  as  ye  eat  this  bread," 
&c.  After  communion,  I  made  a  few  remarks,  and  the  exercises 
were  closed  with  prayer  by  my  brother  John.  It  was  good  to  be 
there,  and  one  of  the  elders  remarked  to  me  afterwards,  "  Truly 
we  have  had  a  feast,  and  a  good  day." 

Yours  in  haste,  with  true  affection, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


CHAPTER   III. 

JANUARY  19  to  MAY  27,  1842. 

VOYAGE    TO   CHINA — JOURNAL   IN   THE   HUNTRESS. 

Ship  Huntress,  Wednesday,  Jan.  26th,  1842. 
At  sea,  N.  Int.  33°  38',  W.  long.  54°  04'. 

MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

As  it  is  just  a  week  to-day  since  leaving  home,  and  circumstan- 
ces are  favorable,  I  shall  commence  my  promised  journal ;  though 
I  have  so  much  to  write  up  from  my  pencil  notes,  that  the  very 
idea  of  it  almost  appals  me  : — so  much  by  way  of  preface. 

We  got  under  weigh  at  half  past  twelve  last  Wednesday, 
and,  with  three  hearty  cheers  from  the  crew,  proceeded  down  the 
bay.  The  novelty  and  excitement  of  my  situation  kept  me  from 
any  very  unpleasant  feelings  at  parting.  I  ought  to  say  more 
than  this,  however.  The  conviction  that  I  was  in  the  path  of 
duty,  and  the  felt  presence  and  sustaining  influence  of  an  all-gra- 
cious Saviour,  upheld  me  and  carried  me  safely  through  a  scene 
that  I  had  dreaded  almost  as  much  as  death  itself. 

As  there  was  little  or  no  wind,  the  captain  and  pilot  thought  it 
best  to  anchor  for  the  night  in  Prince's  Bay — a  large  and  very 
beautiful  and  safe  bay,  just  inside  of  the  Hook,  and  wait  (ill 
morning.  Accordingly  the  steamboat  left  us  at  3^  p.  M.,  and  I 
felt  really  glad,  when  I  saw  Mr.  B.  parting  from  his  father  and 
brother,  that  I  had  come  alone.  The  quietness  and  deliberation 
of  such  partings  is  killing.  Farewell  speeches  read  very  well,  but 
when  one  is  swallowing  his  feelings  and  choking  almost  with  emo- 
tion, and  doing  his  utmost  to  retain  his  calmness  and  composure, 
the  sooner  in  such  circumstances  the  better,  a  silent  shake  of  the 
hand  and  away  is  enough  for  me.  It  is  bad  enough  to  think  of 
it  now. 

After  reading  my  Bible  with  more  than  ordinary  interest,  I  went 
to  bed  at  ten  p.  M.,  as  quietly  and  calmly  as  if  I  had  been  at  home, 
and  dreamed  of  you  all  before  morning. 

Thursday,  January  20th.  I  was  wakened  early  by  hearing  the 
men  at  work  on  different  parts  of  the  rigging,  weighing  anchor,  &c. 
I  dressed  and  went  out  on  deck  before  sunrise.  I  found  Mr.  K. 
there,  and  the  captain  soon  came  out.  There  was  as  yet  no  wind, 


72  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

but  the  pilot,  who  was  "  wi.le  awake,"  thought  a  breeze  would 
spring  up  about  sunrise,  and  they  were  preparing  sail,  to  catch  the 
first  breath.  We  did  not  get  fairly  started,  however,  until  after 
nine  A.  M.,  when  a  light  breeze  filled  the  higher  sails,  (topsails  and 
top-gallants,)  and  we  slowly  moved  away.  Several  oilier  vessels, 
outward  bound,  had  anchored  near  us,  and  they  followed  close  in 
our  wake.  We  soon  got  outside  of  the  Hook,  and  when  fairly 
under  weigh,  the  pilot,  left  us,  at  a  quarter  before  twelve.  I  had 
hastily  written  a  few  lines  to  you  and  father,  which  I  sent  back 
bv  him.  He  sprang  lightly  over  the  side  of  the  vessel  into  a  row- 
boat  that,  was  wailing  for  him,  and  the  last  link  was  broken  !  We 
kept  on  in  somewhat  of  a  south-east  direction,  and  soon  the  only 
object  that  could  be  seen,  was  the  Highlands,  south  of  the  en- 
trance of  the  channel  to  New  York.  I  could  hardly  realize  my 
situation. 

I  soon  found  Mr.  B.  standing  at  the  stern,  looking  rather  pale. 
I  could  not  help  laughing,  though  I  pitied  him,  and  wrapping  my- 
self in  my  cloak,  as  there  was  a  fresh  breeze,  I  sat  down  on 
a  stool  in  the  stern  of  the  vessel.  The  motion  soon  began  to 
affect  me,  and  when  I  went  to  dinner,  there  were  none  at  the 
table  except  the  captain  and  Mr.  K.  I  found  I  was  i:  too  far 
gone"  to  eat  anything,  and  feeling  very  dizzy,  went  out  into  the 
open  air.  Though  I  felt  more  and  more  sick,  I  could  not  help 
being  struck  with  the  extreme  ludicrousness  of  the  appearance  of 
a  sea-sick  passenger.  How  the  old  sailors  must,  laugh  among 
themselves  at  the  pale  faces  and  wo-begone  countenances  and 
staggering  gait  of  the  "  men  with  gloves  on  !"  I  was  quite  sick  on 
Friday,  and  till  three  p.  M.  on  Saturday,  when  T  went  out  on  deck, 
and  staid  about  two  hours.  We  were  then  about  the  middle  of 
the  Gulf  Stream,  and  the  air  was  quite  mild  and  pleasant.  Ther- 
mometer, about  63°.  I  saw  a  shoal  of  fish  playing  in  the  water. 
Mr.  K.  said  they  were  porpoises,  but  I  could  not  see  their  shape. 

I  felt  a  great  deal  better ;  went  to  table  and  ate  a  light  supper, 
and  immediately  after  turned  in  for  the  night  and  slept  pretty 
well.  Dreamed  about  home,  and  my  trip  to  Ogdensburgh,  and 
fifty  other  things. 

There  !  I  have  got  safely  to  the  end  of  last  week,  and  I'll  now 
turn  in  for  this  night.  It  is  now  past  four  bells,  i.  e.,  past  ten  o'clock, 
P.M.,  with  us,  while  my  watch,  which  I  have  not  altered  since 
leaving  home,  says  it  is  a  little  past  nine  with  you.  I  suppose 
you  are  now  at  family  worship.  Am  I  right  in  thinking,  that  the 
absent  one  is  remembered  at  this  hour?  But  I  need  not  ask  the 
question,  for  I  know  it.  Good  night. 

Sabbath  morning,  January  23J.  Rose  and  went  out  about,  six 
o'clock,  New  York  time,  but  here  it  was  past  sunrise.  The  air 
.was  very  mitd  and  pleasant,  and  I  found  little  use  for  my  cloak. 
Temperature  of  the  water,  71°  ;  air,  about  63°.  Was  out  on  deck 
most  of  the  morning,  when  it  was  cool  and  pleasant.  The  sky 
was  covered  with  clouds  almost  all  day.  I  thought  of  trying  to 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  73 

preach  in  the  afternoon,  but  felt  almost,  too  weak.  The  captain, 
too,  was  quite  unwell  ;  and  as  he  and  I  had  concluded  nothing 
definite  when  we  spoke  of  the  subject  before,  I  did  not  like  to  make 
any  move,  without  consulting  him  further.  Could  not  read  much  ; 
it  made  me  light-headed  to  read  more  than  two  or  three  pages. 

In  the  evening  the  captain  was  quite  in  a  talking  mood.  He  had 
been  for  a  short  time  in  the  Liverpool  trade.  He  spoke  of  the 
suTsriiigs  of  steerage  passengers  from  Europe  to  America,  from 
want  of  provisions  when  the  voyage  is  prolonged,  sea-sickness,  &c. 
Oiily  think  of  the  misery  of  100,  or  15').  or  200  persons,  in  the 
steerage  in  bad  weather,  when  sea-sick — men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren, with  their  provisions  and  chests.  &c.,  in  one  mass  of  con- 
fusion. It  made  my  heart  ache  to  think  of  it ;  for  if  I,  in  a  slight 
attack,  and  with  comparatively  splendid  accommodation?,  had 
suffered  so  much,  how  much  more  must  they  suffer?  And  then 
to  think  of  the  slaves  in  a  slave-ship,  when  sea-sick  ;  "Man  can- 
not utter  it."  The  captain  had  once  crossed  from  Liverpool  with 
150  steerage  passengers,  and  he  said  he  never  wished  to  do  it 
again. 

Monday,  24th.  Q,uile  a  gale  rose  soon  after  midnight,  and  took 
us  all  aback.  The  captain  was  just  getting  into  a  refreshing 
sle^p,  when  he  heard  the  sound,  and,  rushing  out  on  deck,  he  was 
wet  through  in  an  instant  by  the  rain  and  the  sea;  and  though 
he  came  back  soon,  yet  he  was  much  the  worse  for  the  exposure. 
I  heard  the  loud  and  rapid  orders  of  the  mate,  and  the  quick  tread 
of  many  feet  about  deck,  but,  knowing  I  could  be  of  no  use,  I  kept 
my  berth.  Went  out  about  seven  o'clock,  though  there  was  so  much 
motion  in  the  ship,  that  I  was  nearly  sick,  and  could  hardly  dress 
myself.  It  was  blowing  quite  a  gale,  and  the  ship  was  driving 
on,  and  rolling  like  an  egg-shell.  Only  think  of  a  vessel  whose 
weight  must  be  several  hundred  tons,  probably  12')0,  tossing  about 
like  a  cork  !  What  immense  power  to  produce  such  effects  !  And 
how  great  and  powerful  must  He  be  who  holds  the  winds  in  his 
fists,  and  the  seas  in  ihe  hollow  of  his  hands!  1  stood  and  gazed 
on  the  dashing  and  rolling  waves,  and  thought  of  Him  who 
"  walked  on  the  waters."  How  sweet  to  think  his  name  is 
"Emmanuel,  God  with  us." 

The  gale  continued  all  day  Monday  and  Tuesday,  and,  as  may 
be  supposed,  we  had  a  dreary  time.  Not  being  perfectly  recov- 
ered from  sea-sickness,  we  all  felt  it  more  or  less.  There  was  a 
constant  gale,  the  wind  roaring  and  groaning  through  the  rigging, 
the  foam  and  spray  breaking  over  the  forecastle,  and  sometimes 
over  the  after-parts  of  the  vessel.  The  decks  were  dripping  wet 
all  the  time,  and  showers  of  rain  falling  every  half-hour. 

During  the  morning  the  wind  tore  our  jib  to  ribbons,  and  we 
were  obliged  to  take  in  most  of  the  sails,  and  drive  on  "under  close- 
reefed  topsails,  and  reefed  mainsail.  (To  "  reef  a  sail"  is  to  take, 
in  about  one  third  of  it;  to  "close-reef"  is  to  take  in  two-thirds.) 
The  stock  seemed  to  feel  the  weather  a  good  deal.  Jack  said, 


71  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

"  his  family  took  a  great  deal  of  doctoring  to-day."  In  the  cabin, 
as  Mr.  B.  said,  we  only  "  lived ;"  \ve  did  nothing,  and  could  do 
nothing.  It  was  hard  work  to  keep  our  seats,  and  we  had  lo  "  eat 
over  I  he  fence,"  i.e.,  had  a  railing,  about  three  inches  high,  around 
the  (able,  and  frame-work  across  and  along,  to  keep  the  dishes  in 
their  place.  We  earned  all  we  ate  that  day.  I  could  not  bear 
the  air  of  the  room,  and  having  doffed  my  "long-tailed  blue,"  and 
put  on  father's  old  over-coat,  which  was  just  the  thing.  I  sat  out 
most  of  the  day  at  the  door  of  the  cuddy.  Occasionally  I  got  a 
taste  of  the  salt  water ;  but,  on  the  whole,  I  did  as  well,  and  per- 
haps better,  than  any  of  the  rest.  I  pitied  Mr.  B.  very  much  ;  he 
has  been  for  some  lime  in  very  poor  health,  and  has  suffered  a 
great  deal.  When  asked  how  he  was,  he  replied,  "  I  have  known 
many  sad  days,  but  this  has  been  the  dreariest  of  them  all."  This 
was  said  in  a  tone  of  deep  feeling,  but  it  only  called  forth  a  laugh, 
in  which,  though  not  unkindly  meant,  nor  unkindly  taken,  I  could 
not  ioin. 

I  do  not  know  what  our  crew  think  of  their  passengers,  but.  many 
sailors  think  that  ladies  and  clergymen  are  very  unfortunate 
people  to  have  on  shipboard.  We  tried  to  talk  some  in  the  even- 
ing, but  it  would  not  do,  and  we  turned  in  to  hope  for  better  days. 

Tuesday,  January  25th.  Gale  still  continued,  though  not  so 
hard,  perhaps,  as  yesterday  ;  but  still  severe,  and  the  motion  of 
the  ship,  if  possible,  more  unpleasant.  I  could  eat  but  little  at 
breakfast,  and  after  it  was  over,  I  leaned  my  head  against  the 
mizzen-mast,  which  comes  through  the  table  just  aft  of  my  seat, 
and  felt  very  uncomfortable.  The  Bible  was  lying  just  under  my 
face,  and  I  opened  it  almost  mechanically.  It  opened  at  Job  xiv., 
and  I  read  that  touching  and  melancholy  passage  with  a  deeper  ex- 
perience of  its  truth  than  almost  ever  before: 

'•  Man  that  is  born  of  a  woman  is  of  few  days,  and  full  of  trouble. 

He  cometh  forth  like  a  flower,  and  is  cut  down  :  he  fleetii  also 
as  a  shadow,  and  continueth  not. 

Man  lieth  down  and  riseth  not,  till  the  heavens  be  no  more. 
They  shall  not  awake,  nor  be  raised  out  of  sleep. 

Thou  prevailed  against  him  and  he  passeth,  thou  changest  his 
countenance  and  sendest  him  away." 

We  had  showers  and  sunshine  all  day,  wind  high  but  gradually 
abating,  though  not  enough  to  enable  us  to  enjoy  much  comf  >rt. 
You  would  have  laughed  could  you  have  looked  in  at  the  cuddy 
about  seven  P.  M.,  and  yet  your  pity  would  have  been  moved.  The 
two  ladies  sat  near  the  door  of  their  brother's  room  quietly,  for  sev- 
eral hours,  not  sad,  nor  yet  cheerful.  Mr.  B.  sat  half  awake  and 
half  asleep,  and  feeling,  as  he  said  the  next  day,  in  such  a  way  as 
hi> :i  lexicon  had  no  words  to  express."  Mr.  K.  sat  for  hours  by  the 
table,  leaning  his  head  on  his  hand,  and  feeling  incapable  of  doing 
anything;  making  an  occasional  attempt  to  enliven  us,  but  gene- 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  75 

rally  giving  it  over  very  soon.  Myself,  unable  to  sit  still  any 
length  of  time,  and  yet  equally  unable  to  do  anything  ;  hating  to 
go  into  my  room,  where  the  air  was  still  closer;  and  hating  to  go 
out  where  everything  was  damp  and  cold.  The  captain  was  but 
poorly,  and  kept  his  bed  all  day  ;  and  the  mate  had  his  hands  full 
outside.  The  "  boys"  seemed  to  feel  as  badly  as  ourselves,  as  it 
is  their  first  voyage.  One  of  them  said  he  "  would  give  a  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  to  be  at  home  again."  "Well,"  said  Mrs. 
G.,  when  she  heard  of  it,  "  there's  only  one  thing  would  tempt  me 
to  make  such  a  voyage." 

In  the  evening  the  captain  came  into  the  room,  and  Mr.  K. 
spoke  to  him,  and  said  something  about  the  pleasures  of  home  ; 
"but  this  Ls  not  home, — there  is  no  place  like  home."  "True!" 
sail!  Mr.  B.,  in  a  tone  half  tragic,  half  comic,  that  set  us  all  a 
laug'hing,  and  seemed  to  revive  us  a  good  deal.  Well,  that's 
enough  of  the  dark  side  of  the  picture,  and  as  things  took  a  better 
course  in  the  evening  and  night,  we  will  have  some  lighter  colors. 

Wednesday,  26th.  A  splendid  day  !  After  a  few  light  showers, 
it  cleared  off  gloriously  ;  the  sea  became  smooth,  and  the  sun 
shone  out  pleasantly;  and  with  a  pleasant  breeze,  that  soon  dried 
up  the  moisture  of  the  decks  and  rigging,  we  held  on  the  "  even 
tenor  of  our  way."  We  sat  in  the  sun.  and  all  felt  decidedly 
better.  The  captain  was  out,  and  seeing  me  reading  "  Two 
Years  before  the  Mast,"  he  said,  "That's  one  of  the  greatest 
books  ever  written.  It  is  a  real  masterpiece.  There's  a  great 
many  men,  and  officers,  and  captains,  just  as  they  are  there  de- 
scribed, though  they  don't  all  like  to  own  it." 

A  pigeon  or  gull  followed  us  for  several  hours  to-day,  flying^wi'h 
almost  no  exertion.  It  was  as  large  as  a  duck,  though  longer, 
ash-colored  above,  and  white  beneath,  with  a  long  bill. 

In  the  evening,  the  ladies  commenced  walking  on  deck,  and  for 
a  while  we  were  quite  merry.  It  was  a  glorious  moonlight,  and 
the  rich  colors  of  the  sky  and  sea  were  very  beautiful  indeed.  I 
sat  up  till  past,  eleven,  most  of  the  time  at  my  journal. 

Thursday,  27th.  Up  and  out  about  seven.  A  very  pleasant  day, 
but  so  little  wind  that  we  make  very  little  progress.  A  sail  has 
been  on  our  weather  quarter  all  day,  but  so  far  off,  that  we  see 
but  little  of  her.  We  saw  one  on  Monday,  but  soon  lost,  sight  of 
her  in  a  shower  of  rain.  Busy  reading  and  writing  "  Before  the 
Mast,"  and  my  journal.  Have  had  a  great  appetite  yesterday  and 
to-day. 

All  seem  to  be  in  fine  spirits,  and  to  enjoy  the  pleasant  weather 
exceedingly.  To  give  you  an  idea  of  the  matter — the  thermometer 
to-day  was  69°,  and  I  sat.  in  the  shade  of  one  of  the  sails  for  seve 
ral  hours,  without  either  hat  or  cloak,  reading;  the  ladies  were  out 
without  their  bonnets,  and  all  this  on  the  27th  of  January  !  In 
the  evening,  we  had  several  very  pleasant  little  conversations. 
The  captain  said  that  in  one  of  their  late  voyages,  they  had  a 
sheep  and  a  goose  that  became  very  intimate  and  sociable,  and 


76  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

used  to  run  about  the  decks  together.  They  took  them  out  to 
Canton,  and  brought  them  back,  refusing  to  kill  them,  on  account 
of  their  singular  union.  This  called  forth  the  remark,  that  sailors 
had  some  feelings  after  all ;  and  the  captain  added,  that  he  had 
kno\vn  a  whole  ship's  crew  to  intercede  for  the  life  of  a  favorite 
pig,  saying  they  would  rather  live  all  the  time  on  salt  beef,  th  in 
Inve  it  put  to  death.  "If  I  had  anybody  to  write  it  down,"  said 
he,  ';I  could  tell  almost  as  fine  a  story  as  that  book  does'"'— point- 
ing to  "Two  Years  before  the  Mast." 

As  we  are  all  pretty  well  over  sea  sickness,  I  took  the  opportu- 
nity of  consulting  the  mate  as  to  religious  services,  meaning  on 
the  first  good  occasion  to  have  the  matter  settled  with  the  captain. 
I  am  more  and  more  pleased  with  Mr.  Gillespie,  and  could  heartily 
wish  that  he  were  master  of  a  vessel  himself.  He  says  when  he 
"  gets  to  be  captain,  if  that  ever  happens,  he  means  to  have  wor- 
ship twice  a  day  for  all  the  crew."  He  told  me,  that  in  one  of 
their  voyages,  one  of  the  men  did  not  come  to  preaching  once, 
alleging  that  he  was  sick.  He  suspected  him  of  merely  feigning 
sickness,  and  went  to  see  him,  and  finding  that  it  was  ail  a  sham, 
ordered  him  a  pretty  stiff  dose  of  castor  oil.  The  man  had  to 
take  it,  and  did  not  feign  sickness  any  more. 

Friday,  28th.  Another  very  fine  day.  Up  and  out  very  soon 
after  sunrise,  meant,  to  have  seen  the  sun  get  up,  but  failed.  A 
pleasant  breeze  all  day,  and  a?  many  sails  spread  as  could  well  be 
got  on  the  masts  and  yards.  Yesterday  and  to-day  the  men  have 
been  employed  in  setting  up  the  rigging,  which  was  somewhat 
loose.  It  had  been  set  up  in  New  York  in  cold  weather,  and 
needed  overhauling.  All  in  fine  spirits,  and  eating  heartily.  This 
has  been  what  Mrs.  G.  calls  our  "pork  and  bean  day."  We  had 
the  finest  dish  of  those  articles  decidedly  that  ever  I  tasted,  and 
other  good  things,  "too  tedious  to  mention,"  as  auctioneers  say. 
I  shall  become  quite  an  epicure  before  the  voyage  is  out,  at  this 
«  ^e. 

Took  the  opportunity  of  speaking  to  the  captain  about,  religious 
services.  He  was  perfectly  willing  to  have  service  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  seemed  anxious  to  know  if  we  could  have  singing.  He  said 

o       o 

there  was  no  objection  to  the  passengers  having  prayers  as  often 
a^  they  chose  in  the  after-cabin  ;  but  when  I  spoke  of  having  the 
men  attend  once  a  day,  (which  the  mate  recommended;)  he  an- 
swered in  such  a  way,  that  I  considered  it  prudent  riot  to  afford 
him  the  opportunity  of  giving  a  direct  refusal,  at  least  for  the  pre- 
sent. 

A  light  shower  in  the  afternoon  cooled  the  air  a  little  too  much. 
Thermometer  during  the  day  ranged  from  68°  to  72°  in  the  shade. 
The  wind  has  increased  some,  and  the  vessel  rolls  a  good  deal. 
Saw  a  sail  on  our  stern  to-day,  a  great  way  off,  which  may  have 
been  the  same  one  we  saw  yesterday. 

Finished  "  Two  Years  before  the  Mast."  and  lent  it  to  the  cap- 
tain, who  wants  to  read  it.  Overhauled  some  of  my  papers,  and 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  77 

began  to  lay  out.  Brother  Owen's  route  to  India.  Read  a  page  of 
the  Brother  Jonathan,  gazed  at  the  deep  blue  sea  for  a  long  dine, 
listened  to  the  canary  bird,  and  talked  with  Mr.  B.,  whom  I  find 
a  very  pleasant  companion  indeed.  Saw  a  gull  flying  about  and 
sporting  in  the  waves.  Its  flight  was 

"O'er  the  mountain  wave, 
Its  home  upon  the  deep." 

Yet  methinks  like  the  dove  that  Noah  sent  out  from  the  ark,  or 
like  the  Christian  pilgrim  in  the  world,  it  would  here  "find  no 
rest  for  the  sole  of  its  foot." 

Reading  one  of  Carlyle's  pieces,  a  review  of  the  life  of  Jean  Paul 
Richter.  The  review  was  short,  but  contained  several  very  stri- 
king and  beautiful  thoughts,  with  some  that,  thoitgh  smoothed 
over,  yet,  contained  the  rankest  pantheism.  "Even  in  the  streets 
of  Bayreuth.  Richter  was  seldom  seen  without  a  flower  in  his 
breast."  What  a  trait  of  character  is  that !  so  simple,  open,  child- 
like. Carlyle's  description  of  Richter's  style  is  exactly  character- 
istic of  his  own  style  at  present,  for  I  would  never  have  dreamed 
that  the  author  of  this  review,  written  1827,  had  also  written  the 
"French  Revolution."  "The  essence  of  affectation  is  that  it  be 
assumed."  Richter's  "fancy  hangs,  like  the  sun,  a  jewel  on  every 
grass  blade,  and  sows  the  earth  at  large  with  orient  pearl."  "  Unite 
the  sportfulness  of  Rabelais,  and  the  best  sensibility  of  Sterne, 
with  the  earnestness,  and  even  in  slight  portions,  the  sublimity  of 
Milton;  and  let  the  mosaic  brain  of  old  Burton  give  forth  the 
workings  of  this  strange  union,  with  the  pen  of  Jeremy  Bentham  !" 
Such  is  Richter's  humor,  &c..  according  toCarlyle.  Here's  a  good 
idea,  "True  humor  springs  not  more  from  the  head  than  from  the 
heart.  It  is  not  contempt,  its  essence  is  love;  it  issues  not  in 
laughter,  but  in  still  smiles  which  lie  far  deeper."  He  speaks  of 
"the  freedom  with  which  Richter  bandies  to  and  fro  the  dogmas 
of  religion,  nay,  sometimes,  the  highest  objects  of  Christian  rever- 
ence;" and  in  the  same  paragraph  adds,  "Yet  he  is  in  the  high- 
est sense  of  the  word  religious."  Save  me  from  such  a  religion ! 
That  will  do  now  for  a  talk  for  this  night,  and  good-by. 

Saturday  night,  January  29th.  How  many  thoughts  of  past,  of 
distant,  of  high  and  holy  and  heavenly  things  it  brings !  It 
speaks  of  the  Sabbath — of  rest.  But  I  am  tossed  on  the  wide  and 
heaving  sea;  there  is  no  rest  on  earth,  not  till  we  come  to  the 
heavenly  world,  where  "  there  is  no  more  sea."  Now  the  ship  is 
rolling  in  the  waves,  everything  here  is  moving.  I  am  a  stranger 
and  a  pilgrim  in  the  earth.  I  look  about  in  vain  for  some  solid, 
unmoving  foundation,  but  I  see  none  below  the  skies.  Upwards, 
I  see  the  heavenly  host,  and  they  appear  fixed.  I  know  that  the 
things  of  the  invisible  heavens  are  firm.  That  city  hath  founda- 
tions. Its  builder  and  maker  is  God. 

"Heaven  is  the  Christian  pilgrim's  home, 
His  rest  at  every  stage." 


78  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

Our  passengers  have  begun  to  amuse  themselves  with  talking  and 
planning  about  their  return  home,  but  I  do  not  join  them  in  this. 
Even  now,  my  outward  condition  is  better  than  His,  who  "had 
not  where  la  lay  his  head;"  and  for  His  sake,  willingly  do  I  "  con- 
lc-s  that  I  am  a  stranger  in  the  earth."  Good  night. ;  I  am  pensive, 
but  happy.  It  is  now  near  your  time  for  family  worship  ;  and 
though  absent  in  body,  in  spirit  I  will  join  with  you.  The  peace 
of  God  keep  you  all ! 

Monday,  January  31st.  Yesterday  was  the  Sabbath  ;  the  sun 
rose  clear  and  bright,  and  the  day  was  tine,  with  sufficient  wind 
just  to  keep  the  sails  tolerably  full.  The  men  were  all  free  soon 
after  nine  A.  M.,  and  soon  after  ten,  we  met  fur  preaching  in  the 
forecabin. 

I  took  my  station  by  the  door  of  my  room,  where  I  could  hold 
on  to  the  back  of  the  seat  round  the  table.  The  two  ladies  sat  on 
the  bench  just  before  me,  arid  the  mate  next  to  them,  the  captain 
on  a  chair  at  the  coiner  of  the  table,  Mr.  B.  and  Mr.  K.  on  my 
right  hand,  and  the  men  along  the  side  and  end  of  the  room  oppo- 
site me.  They  were  all  present,  I  believe,  except  the  man  at  the 
helm  and  the  second  mate,  who  had  to  keep  on  the  lookout.  The 
room  was  quite  full.  The  services  were  commenced  by  reading 
2  Kings  v.,  then  followed  prayer  and  singing.  I  set  the  times  my- 
self, and  was  pretty  loudly  accompanied  by  several  of  the  crew, 
some  two  or  three  of  whom  knew  the  tunes,  while  others  guessed 
at  them;  on  the  whole  the  singing  was  tolerable,  but  I  hope  it 
will  improve.  After  singing  the  hymn,  I  preached  on  Luke  xvii. 
11 — 19;  Christ's  healing  the  ten  lepers.  My  hearers  were  very 
attentive  indeed,  especially  one  of  the  men,  whom  I  had  spoken  to 
several  times,  and  whose  jolly  air  and  hearty  singing  at  the  ropes 
had  attracted  my  attention.  I  was.  however,  a  good  deal  embar- 
rassed. My  head  almost  touched  the  ceiling.  My  audience  was 
almost  within  arm's  length  ;  some  were  in  fact  so ;  the  room  was 
small,  and  not  being  sufficiently  accustomed  to  the  motion  of  the 
vessel,  I  had  to  hold  on  all  the  time  to  the  back  of  the  seat  to  keep 
my  balance.  Then  by  having  to  lead  in  the  singing,  there  was  no 
time  to  compose  my  thoughts,  and  I  suppose  I  made  but  blunder- 
ing work  of  it.  After  preaching,  there  was  prayer  and  singing 
again,  and  the  benediction — the  whole  exercises  taking  about  fifty 
minutes.  I  wanted  to  have  them  as  short  as  possible,  and  riot 
knowing  exactly  how  much  time  they  would  take,  this  contributed 
a  little  to  embarrass  me.  1  assure  you,  I  felt  for  a  while  after  the 
services  were  over,  as  though  I  should  like  to  hide  myself  from  the 
sight  of  everybody.  However,  I  could  not  but  believe,  that  I  had 
endeavored  to  do  right ;  and  though  for  a  while  half  tempted  to 
think  that  such  services  were  of  no  use,  yet  on  the  whole  I  was 
glad  that  a  beginning  had  been  made.  We  shall  probably  do 
better  hereafter.  Soon  after  service,  Mr.  Gillespie  told  me  that 
just  before  service,  he  had  gone  into  the  forecastle  to  see  if  all  the 
men  had  come  forward.  He  found  one  there  who  was  not  quite 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  79 

ready,  but  said  he  was  coming.  "  Ah,  Mr.  Gillespie,  it  is  seven 
years  since  I  heard  a  prayer."  It  was  the  same  man  who  ap- 
peared so  attentive. 

Saw  a  couple  of  flying  fish  to-day,  and  thought  at  first  that  they 
were  little  birds ;  one  of  them  flew  with  an  irregular,  flight  more 
than  forty  yards  before  it  touched  the  water.  The  sight  of  them 
made  me  think  of  a  passage  in  Henry  Martyri's  diary,  where  he 
says  that  he  thought  his  own  aspirations  after  holiness  and  heaven, 
were  short  and  low  and  uncertain,  like  the  flight  of  the  Hying  fish. 
The  sight  and  the  thought  made  me  condemn  myself. 

Had  prayers  in  the  cabin  at  eight  P.  M.,  and  afterwards  a  long  talk 
with  Mr.  Gillespie  about  the  Wall  street  and  Middle  Dutch  churches, 
and  about  a  voyage  Mr.  G.  made  from  Liverpool  to  New  York 
with  135  steerage  passengers,  several  of  whom  died  on  the  voyage. 
He  had  almost  the  whole  care  of  them,  and  dates  his  first  serious 
impressions  to  what  he  then  witnessed.  Then  we  talked  about 
the  difficulty  of  maintaining  the  life  of  religion  on  ship-board,  and 
in  places  of  trial,  the  danger  of  worldliness,  &c. 

Tuesday,  Feb.  1st.  What  did  I  do  to-day  ?  Let  us  see.  Read 
two  chapters  in  History  of  the  Puritans ;  five  or  six  pages  of 
geometry  ;  the  introduction  to  Hill's  Theology;  part  of  the  "Cu- 
riosity Shop;"  an  article  in  the  Repertory;  laid  out  our  course 
thus  far  on  my  map — which,  having  some  occasion  to  show  to  the 
c:i|)t,ain,  he  told  me  very  politely,  that  I  l'  was  an  accomplished 
hydrographer."  I  intend  to  try  to  get.  on  some  regular  course 
of  study  soon ;  to-morrow,  if  possible  ;  because  I  begin  to  feel  the 
monotony  of  this  sea  life,  and  to  find  the  need  of  system  in  the 
employment  of  my  time. 

Wednesday,  Feb.  2d.  Up  and  out  (my  stereotyped  formula) 
at  half  after  six;  walked  about  the  deck  for  half  an  hour,  and 
then  came  down  and  spent  an  hour  in  reading  the  Bible  in  Eng- 
lish and  Hebrew.  After  breakfast,  read  Neal's  History  of  the  Pu- 
ritans pretty  steadily  for  two  or  three  hours,  with  the  exception  of 
several  turns  on  deck.  While  I  was  looking  over  the  side  of  the 
ship,  at  some  sea-weed  floating  past,  the  captain  came  up  to  me, 
and,  in  answer  to  my  inquiries,  told  me  that  they  never  saw  it 
much  south  of  17°  north  lat.  ;  and  that  on  their  return  home,  the 
first  familiar  object  seen  is  the  north  star,  and  the  second  the  sea- 
weed. 

Thursday,  Feb.  3d.  Another  clear  and  beautiful  day,  but  still 
unfavorable  for  our  speedy  progress.  The  wind  is  still  too  much 
from  the  east,  and  we  move  on  slowly  over  the  deep  blue  sea. 
I  spent  some  time  this  morning,  leaning  over  the  ship's  side,  and 
looking  almost  without  an  object  at  the  ocean.  The  sea  was 
quite  calm,  with  a  long  low  swell,  that  gently  rocked  the  ship,  as 
a  nurse  would  rock  the  cradle  of  a  sleeping  child.  Everything 
where  I  stood  was  still,  and  T  looked  at  t»!ie  sun's  rays  as  they  glit- 
tered from  the  little  dancing  waves.  How  they  sparkled  and  shone 
in  one  full  blaze,  where  his  beams  fell  directly  on  them  !  while  ofT 


80  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

on  either  side,  as  they  became  fewer  and  fewer,  but  still  bright  and 
sparkling  as  ever,  they  looked  like  little  fairies  of  the  deep,  putting1 
their  head.s  up  joyously  out  of  the  water,  and  as  suddenly  sinking 
again  beneath  the  wave.  Stc  that  splash  in  the  water  !  wh  it  is 
that?  Oh,  it's  a  gull,  plunging  down  probably  for  a  Hying  (i-'i  ; 
now  he  is  off  in  a  long  flight,  away  to  the  south — will  he  come 
back  again  ?  Again,  the  blue  sea  and  the  sparkling  reflected 
beanie ;  the  sails  flapping  idly  against  the  mast.  Almost  bogun 
to  wish  for  another  gale,  and  yet  so  calm  and  peaceful,  it  seems 
good  to  be  here.  How  apt  we  are  to  be  satisfied  with  this  uncer- 
tain world  when  the  sun  shines,  and  the  soft,  winds  blow  !  Yet 
storms  may  coine, — they  will  come,  and  then  we  shall  say — 

"  I  would  not  live  alway,  I  ask  not  to  stay 
Where  storm  after  storm  rises  dark  o'er  the  way." 

What's  that,  away  off  there?  A  sail.  Ha!  human  beings 
there!  Who  are  they  ?  Do  they  see  us?  How  are  they?  Are 
they  joyful  or  happy?  It  was  a  bark,  bound  to  the  southward.— 
probably  an  English  vessel,  bound  to  the  West  Indies.  It  was, 
however,  too  far  off  to  exchange  any  signals,  and  soon  was  out  of 
sight. 

My  time  passes  pleasantly  away,  and  as  yet,  I  have  felt  nothing 
like  ennui ;  and  very  seldom,  indeed,  has  the  feeling  of  loneliness, 
that  came  over  me  so  often  last  summer,  come  near  mo  in  this 
voyage.  Perhaps  it  is  because  I  feel  more  and  more  that  I  am  a 
stranger  in  the  earth,  and  am  more  and  more  satisfied  that  it  should 
be  so. 

Friday,  Feb.  4th.  Another  glorious  day.  Up  and  out.  before 
the  sun  ;  saw  him  rise.  My  vocabulary  wants  words  to  express 
the  richness  and  beauty  of  the  clouds 

"  Which  sat  about  the  East, 
And  wantoned  with  his  golden  locks." 

After  tea  looked  over  a  little  school-book  in  astronomy,  with 
map?,  &c.,  and  concluded  to  try  some  of  the  constellations ;  was 
quite  charmed  with  my  success,  for  I  made  out  the  whole  con- 
stellation of  Orior\,  and  single  stars,  in  four  or  five  others.  The 
ladies,  who  were  promenading  the  decks,  joined  me,  and  after  show- 
ing them  my  newly  acquired  knowledge,  we  spoke  of  him  "who 
loosed  the  bands  of  Orion,  and  sent  forth  Mazzaroth  in  his  sea- 
son." I  became  quite  enraptured  with  the  study,  and  promise  my- 
self a  good  deal  of  pleasure  in  pursuit  of  it.  Do  you  remember  how, 
one  night,  as  we  were  going  to  church,  I  pointed  out  to  you  the 
North  Star,  and  Orion's  belt  ?  I  have  been  looking  up  so  long,  that 
my  neck  fairly  aches.  How  little  we  know  of  the  stars  !  They  are, 
doubtless,  at  least  that  is  my  own  firm  conviction,  inhabited  worlds, 
— all  displaying  the  power,  and  wisdom,  and  goodness  of  our  Cre- 
ator. What  wonderful  and  varied  displays  of  his  attributes  would 
be  seen  by  one  who  could  visit  them  all !  I  am  inclined  to  believe 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  81 

— though,  of  course,  it  is  mere  conjecture — that  every  one  of  them 
is  arranged  in  a  different  order,  inhabited  by  different  kinds  of  ra- 
tional and  irrational  beings,  with  different  genera  and  specie^  of 
plants  and  minerals  ;  aye,  and  different  kinds  of  things  for  which 
\ve  have  neither  names  nor  conceptions.  Who  shall  limit  the 
works  of  Him,  whose  understanding  is  infinite,  and  who  is  wonder- 
ful in  working. 

Monday,  Feb.  7th.  Yesterday  was  a  very  calm,  delightful  day. 
Sufficient  breeze  to  carry  us  on  from  five  to  seven  miles  an  hour, 
and  so  steady,  that  (here  was  very  little  motion.  Had  service 
in  the  morning,  at  ten  o'clock.  Preached  on  Psalm  xxxvii.  5  j 
and  being  less  embarrassed,  I  got  on  much  more  comfortably  than 
on  the  preceding  Sabbath.  The  attention  was  very  good  indeed. 
After  service  it  was  quite  pleasant  to  look  to  the  forward  part  of 
the  ship.  The  forecastle  doors  were  open,  and  some  of  the  men 
were  lying  in  their  berths  or  sitting  on  their  chests,  reading.  Others 
were  sitting  on  the  windlass  and  spars,  or  standing  by  the  sides  of 
the  ship,  reading  or  talking,  all  neatly  dressed,  and  apparently  all 
at  their  ease,  and  very  comfortable.  I  think  our  crew  are  a  very 
good-looking  set  of  men  indeed.  One  of  the  boys  was  sitting  by 
the  ship's  side,  doing  nothing.  The  mate  went  past  him.  and  as 
he  passed,  pulled  out  a  tract  from  his  pocket,  and  gave  it  to  him. 
Afternoon  and  evening  passed  off  pleasantly  and  pretty  quietly. 
The  passengers  were  talking  together  in  the  lower  cabin,  in  the 
evening,  where  they  had  cakes  and  nuts,  &c.,  and  sent  for  me  to 
join  them,  but  I  excused  myself,  and  retired  to  my  own  room.  It 
was  Monthly  Concert  evening,  and  I  thought  of  the  many  Monthly 
Concerts  I  had  attended, — of  the  last  one,  and  of  the  work  before 
me.  Commenced  an  essay,  or  address,  or— I  hardly  know  what 
yet, — but  something  for  Sabbath  Schools,  which,  if  it  is  ever  fin- 
ished, I'll  try  to  have  published,  provided  I  think  it  worthy  of 
that  honor. 

This  morning  I  mustered  up  courage  enough  to  climb  up  to  the 
main-cross-trees.  You  may  be  sure  I  held  tight  to  the  ropes,  when 
I  had  got  so  high.  I  was  surprised  to  find  how  snjall  everything 
looked  on  deck.  The  ship  seemed  no  broader  than  a  common  row- 
boat,  and  the  men  on  deck  only  like  children.  Whether  I  shall 
ever  get  above  the  cross-trees  is  more  than  I  know  at  present ;  but 
it  is  very  doubtful.  There  are  no  ladders  any  higher  up,  and  I 
don't  like  the  idea  of  "  shinning"  up  and  down  a  couple  of  bare 
ropes. 

After  reading  a  couple  of  chapters  in  Neal,  I  took  my  geometry, 
and  lay  down  on  the  transom,  in  the  lower  cabin,  which  is  nicely 
cushioned,  and  read  over  several  propositions.  I  have  been  star- 
gazing this  evening.  It.  was  rather  cloudy,  and  not  a  favorable 
time ;  but  1  found  out  Castor  and  Pollux,  and  several  other  stars. 
I  have  already  learned  the  names  of  twenty-five  stars  and  clus- 
ters in  ten  different  constellations,  and  that  in  only  three  evenings' 
Btucly.  I  can  point  them  all  out  with  little  or  no  difficulty.  Only- 

6 


82  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

learn  the  constellation  Orion — one  of  the  most  magnificent,  and 
one  of  the  easiest  learned  in  ihe  heavens — and  by  imaginary 
squares,  and  rectangles,  and  triangles,  you  can  discover  the  posi- 
tion of  any  star  you  wish.  The  mate  has  a  copy  of  Bunk's 
"Geography  of  the  Heavens  and  Celestial  Atlas,"  which  is  a  cap- 
ital \vork.  One  wants  nothing  more  to  learn  the  names  of  the 
principal  stars,  and  many  interesting  particulars  respecting  them. 

We  have  a  very  pleasant  breeze  now  that,  is  carrying  us  on 
nine  miles  an  hour.  I  was  out  just  now,  half-past  nine,  p.  M.  ; 
clouds  covered  the  sky,  through  which  a  few  stars  dimly  shone  ; 
the  sea  on  either  side  was  dark,  the  ship  was  dashing  the  waves 
in  white  foam  from  the  bows,  and  leaving  a  long  nne  of  snow-like 
billows  behind  her. 

Tuesday,  Feb.  8th.  The  breeze  which  we  took  yesterday  eve- 
ning proves  to  be  the  regular  trade  wind,  which  will  probably 
carry  us  down  to  N.  Lai.  7°  or  6°.  We  are  dashing  on  now  at 
ten  and  a  half  knots,  or  miles,  to  the  hour.  The  captain  says 
"  the  log  line  is  not  long  enough;"  "she  is  making  money  now 
for  her  owners."  I  was  standing  after  dark  at  the  stern  and  at 
the  bows  of  the  vessel,  to  watch  the  foam  caused  by  the  ship's  mo- 
tion. It  was  really  splendid  at  the  bows.  Going  so  rapidly,  she 
throw  the  foam  and  spray  in  wide  sheets  as  white  as  snow,  eight 
or  ten  feet  ahead,  and  several  yards  on  either  side ;  and  the  phos- 
phorescence was  bursting  out  in  faint  glimmerings,  and  in  sparks 
an  1  dashes,  with  a  delicacy  of  light,  such  as  I  never  saw  equalled 
by  any  human  inventions.  How  wonderful  are  the  works  of  the 
Lord  which  we  see,  when  we  "  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships,  and 
do  business  on  the  great  waters  !''  How  wonderful  is  that  wisdom, 
that  by  the  use  of  such  simple  things  as  water  and  light,  can  pro- 
duce so  many  beautiful  arid  glorious  sights  as  we  see  in  the  clouds, 
and  the  rainbow,  in  the  magnificence  of  Niagara,  and  the  solemn 
grandeur  of  the  ocean.  "Oh  Lord,  the  earth  is  full  of  thy  riches, 
— so  is  this  great  and  wide  sea." 

Wednesday,  Feb.  9th.  Trade-winds  still  strong,  and  sea  pretty 
rough.  None^)f  us  (by  its  1  commonly  mean  the  passengers)  slept 
very  well  last  night,  and  none  of  us  feel  very  well  to  day.  It  is 
hard  to  describe  one's  sensation,  being  neither  sick  nor  well. 

In  the  morning  saw  a  shoal  of  porpoises  only  a  few  yards  from 
the  ship's  side,  but  too  far  off  to  be  reached  by  a  harpoon.  They 
were  playing  in  the  water  and  appeared  to  be  turning  over  in  a 
circle  for  amusement.  We  only  saw  them  when  in  the  upper  arc 
of  the  circle,  when  they  threw  themselves  completely  out  of  water. 
Saw  also  several  of  Mother  Carey's  chickens,  a  small  dark-colored 
bird.  The  reason  why  they  are  seen  only  in  rough  weather  is, 
probably,  that  they  obtain  their  food  from  the  sea,  and  find  it  more 
abundantly  where  the  water  is  rough. 

Thursdav,  Feb.  10th.  Many  flocks  of  flying-fish  about  the  ship 
to-day.  They  start  up  in  flocks  of  from  ten  to  a  hundred  as  the 
ship  passes  along,  and  remind  me  very  much  of  the  way  in  which 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  83 

little  birds  start  up  from  (he  bushes  and  from  stubble-fields.  One 
of  them  flew  aboard  last  night.  I  shall  probably  get  some  be- 
fore the  voyage  is  out,  and  will  send  you  one  or  two.  The  one 
that  came  on  board  was  about,  seven  inches  long,  black  above  arid 
white  on  the  belly  ;  mouth  very  much  like  a  sucker's  ;  wings  about 
four  inches  long,  but  being  dry  when  I  saw  it,  they  were  shrunk 
up  and  I  did  not  see  their  breadth.  The  tail  has  the  lower  part 
much  longer  than  the  upper,  and  when  they  fly  it  seems  to  serve 
the  part,  of  a  rudder  through  the  air.  They  are  commonly  only 
about  seven  inches  long,  and  many  that  I  see  are  much  shorter. 
Captain  Lovett,  however,  says  that  off  the  cape  of  Good  Hope  two 
came  aboard  one  of  his  .ships  in  a  storm,  that  were  each  fifteen 
inches  long,  and  measured  twenty-two  inches  from  tip  to  tip  of 
the  wings,  and  were  seven  inches  round  the  body.  They  are 
said  to  be  very  fine  eating,  according  to  Mr.  K.,  "  the  sweetest  of 
all  fish."  Sometimes  they  fly  on  board  in  such  numbers  as  to 
furnish  a  mess  for  all  hands.  Our  ship,  however,  being  very  high 
out  of  water,  we  are  not  likely  to  have  that  luxury.  But  we  need 
not  complain,  for  there  is  everything  here  that  one  wants,  and 
perhaps  more  than  is  good  for  us.  1  am  a  great  advocate  of  tem- 
perance in  food,  but  I  do  not  like  to  be  tempted  with  too  many 
good  things.  My  principles  of  moderation  might  likely  take  wing 
and  fly  away. 

We  are  beginning  to  feel  the  monotony  of  sea  life,  and  the  wish 
that  we  might  speak  a  ship  is  often  uttered.  Even  the  sight  of  a 
sail  is  agreeable,  and  the  flying-fish  and  Mother  Carey's  chickens 
are  eagerly  looked  after.  I  make  a  visit  to  the  main-top  every 
day,  and  sometimes  higher,  and  look  around,  but  nothing  is  to  be 
seen  ;  the  same  vast  expanse  of  waters  still  meets  the  eye.  It 
seems  as  if,  when  we  came  to  the  place  where  "  the  sky  and  sea 
meet,"  we  must  certainly  see  something  ;  but  on,  on  we  go.  The 
sky  above  and  the  dark  rolling  waves  beneath,  and  ourselves  the 
only  visible  objects  of  interest.  Yet  I  am  not  lonely,  nor  would 
I  go  back  if  it  were  in  my  power.  I  am  beginning  now  to  feel  the 
reality  of  my  situation,  ai*l  to  think  of  future  planstand  operations. 
For  two  weeks  or  more  after  leaving  New  York,  I  could  hardly 
realize  that  I  was  really  gone.  It  seemed  like  a  dream.  I  saw 
the  waves  and  looked  round  the  ship,  but  still  could  not.  feel  that 
I  was  really  on  my  way.  Now,  however,  as  we  approach  the  line, 
I  begin  to  feel  that.  I  have  passed  the  Rubicon,  or  to  use  a  more 
script  ural  expression,  that  I  have  departed  from  Jerusalem  and  the 
temple,  and  am  going  far  off  to  the  Gentiles. 

"  Far  away,  ye  billows,  bear  me ; 
Lovely  native  land,  farewell." 

The  captain  was  talking  at  night  of  "  Two  Years  before  the 
Mast ;"  and  speaking  of  Harris,  the  talented  sailor,  he  said,  "  We 
often  have  such  men  on  board  ship*.  I  had  one  last  voyage,  who 
knew  more  than  any  one  else  in  the  ship.  He  had  once  been 


84  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

master  of  a  vessel  himself."  I  asked  how  it  happened,  then,  that 
he  became  a  common  sailor  again.  "  Oh,  he  was  one  of  those 
men  to  whom  money  does  no  good,  and  who  don't  care  about  it. 
They  are  better  off  than  their  officers,  for  they  do  what  they  are 
told, "and  then  turn  in  to  their  berths,  and  feel  no  responsibility  or 
care." 

Passed  the  latitude  of  the  Cape  Verd  Isles  yesterday  and  to-day, 
but  too  far  off  to  see  them,  or  any  signs  of  land. 

Friday,  Feb.  llth.  Our  trade-wind  is  slackening  very  much,  and 
we  shall  probably  be  in  the  i{  variables"  to-morrow.  Have  not  felt 
like  doing  much  of  anything  for  two  or  three  days, — not  sick,  nor 
well. 

Saturday,  Feb.  12th.  Trade'-wind  still  continues,  and  we  have 
come  over  a  thousand  miles  in  five  days — pretty  good  sailing  that. 
Calm,  pleasant  day,  and  rather  warm  ;  looked  very  much  like 
rain  for  several  hours,  but  it  has  cleared  off  beautifully,  and  we 
have  promise  of  another  pleasant  Sabbath.  This  afternoon,  as  I 
was  standing  by  the  gangway,  I  observed  another  kind  offish,  the 
•"skip-jack."  There  was  a  large  shoal  of  them,  playing  about  in 
the  water,  and  leaping  sometimes  ten  feet,  though  commonly  not 
more  than  three  or  four.  I  could  not  observe  the  shape  or  size 
very  distinctly  ;  they  were  perhaps  as  large  as  a  large  shad.  Saw 
a  very  large  flock  of  large  dark-colored  birds,  but  they  were  too 
far  off  to  be  distinctly  seen.  Star-gazing  to-night,  and  saw  a 
couple  of  stars  you  never  see  in  the  United  States — Canopus  and 
Achernee.  The  north  star  is  fast  sinking,  and  we  shall  soon  lose 
eight  of  it. 

Saturday  night  again  !  The  past  week  has  fled  away  swiftly 
and  pleasantly.  Soon  the  Saturday  night  of  life  will  come,  and 
the  unending  Sabbath  of  eternity  will  dawn. 

Sabbath,  Feb.  13th.  A  calm,  beautiful,  and  glorious  day.  Quite 
clear  all  morning,  and  light  fleecy  clouds  in  the  after  part  of  the 
day,  which  tempered  the  air.  Preached  at  ten,  A.  M.,  on  2  Cor.  v. 
21.  Audience  very  attentive.  I  still  lead  in  singing,  and  must 
say,  it  was  to-day  quite  respectable.  S^ing  the  last  hymn  (we 
only  sing  two)  to  Old  Hundred,  and  almost  every  one  joined  in. 
Heard  a  voice  I  had  not  heard  before  singing,  and,  looking  up, 
found  it.  was  the  captain,  singing  with  a  good  deal  of  earnestness. 
After  dinner  went  up  to  the  main-top,  where  I  could  feel  myself 
alone,  and,  sitting  down,  read  and  sang,  and  looked  out  on  the 
blue  sea  for  an  hour.  It  was  good  to  be  there.  I  was  above  the 
cares  and  the  business  of  the  deck.  A  light  breeze  made  my  sta- 
tion pleasant,  and  I  looked  out  on  the  calm  and  gently  heaving 
gea,  where  the  sun  shone  down  with  bright  and  yet  undazzling 
rays.  I  felt  as  a  Christian  sometimes  feels  when  all  around  \s 
calm,  and  the  Spirit's  influence?,  like  gentle  breezes,  move  upon 
his  soul,  and  the  favor  of  God,  like  the  sun's  glad  beams,  comforf3 
his  heart.  Yet  still  it  was  not  home ;  the  rolling  sea  was  still 
there,  and  no  one  could 'say  how  soon  the  calm  might  become  a 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  85 

storm.  It  was  not  hsaven,  it  was  only  a  foretaste  of  the  eternal 
rest.  My  meditations,  however,  were  disturbed  by  the  sight  of  a 
large  fish  making  his  way  after  the  ship.  The  .sail.naker  said  it  was 
probably  a  shark,  because  we  were  now  in  the  "  shark  country." 

Monday,  Feb.  14th.  My  mode  of  passing  my  time  now  is  some- 
what like  this  : — Rise  about  six,  A.  M.,  and  commonly  spend  near 
an  hour  in  dressing  and  walking  about  deck.  From  seven  to  eight, 
at  the  English  arid  Hebrew  Bible.  Breakfast  at  eight,  and  then 
History  and  Mathematics  till  about  noon ;  but  during  this  time,  I 
commonly  walk  about  deck  several  times,  and  pay  a  visit  to  the 
mast-head;  also  occasionally  talk  a  little.  Dinner  at  one,  P.M., 
and  tea  at  six.  Between  these  meals  I  read  Theology  and  Mis- 
cellaneous Literature,  diversified,  as  in  the  forenoon,  by  walking, 
&c..  and  occasionally  by  a  nap,  though  I  prefer  taking  the  nap 
just  before  dinner.  After  tea,  study  Astronomy,  or  stand  by  the 
gangways  (our  great  loafing  places,)  and  look  over  into  the  sea, 
or  talk  with  anybody  who  may  come  along.  It  is  a  time  of  gen- 
eral relaxation.  The  captain  is  smoking  his  cigar  on  deck,  look- 
ing at  the  sails  and  stars,  or  talking  and  laughing  with  some  of 
the  passengers.  The  ladies  are  laughing  and  joking  with  Mr.  B., 
and  Mr.  K.  occasionally  gives  a  lift  when  the  conversation  flags, 
or  they  come  to  me  for  a  lesson  in  Slarology,  or  they  enter  into  a 
discussion  with  their  brother,  or — or — Oh,  there's  a  great  many 
things  too  tedious  to  mention.  At  eight,  p.  M.,  we  have  prayers  in 
the  cabin,  and  then  an  hour  is  spent  sometimes  in  reading,  or 
writing,  or  conversation.  At  nine  we  have  nuts  and  raisins,  &c., 
and  then  off  to  bed  as  soon  as  may  be,  unless  1  happen  to  go  out 
on  deck  and  get  into  conversation  with  the  mate,  which  sometimes 
keeps  me  up  longer. 

Tuesday,  Feb.  15th.  Rain  during  the  night,  and  quite  a  heavy 
shower  in  the  morning.  Caught  about  100  gallons  for  the  stock, 
and  the  men  and  boys  washed  a  good  many  of  their  clothes,  and 
hung  them  about  the  rigging  to  dry.  It  then  fell  dead  calm,  and 
the  ship  lay  like  a  log  on  the  water.  The  captain  said  it  was 
just  the  kind  of  weather  for  sharks,  and  got  the  shark-hook  rig- 
ged out,  and  baited  with  a  piece  of  pork,  and  hung  it  out  astern. 
Very  soon  a  small  shark  showed  himself,  and  seized  it ;  the  line 
was  drawn  in,  and  he  was  quickly  on  deck.  He  floundered  about 
at  a  great  rate,  but  was  soon  hauled  to  the  middle  of  the  vessel, 
and  a  handspike  thrust  down  his  throat ;  he  then  received  several 
blows  on  the  back  of  the  head  with  a  heavy  iron  hammer,  and 
lay  quite  still.  Although  he  was  dead,  and  the  second  mate  open- 
ed him,  took  out  all  the  entrails,  and  washed  the  inside  of  his 
body — would  you  believe  it  ? — after  all  this,  he  floundered  about, 
and  beat  the  deck  violently  with  his  tail,  and  looked  so  savage, 
that  it  was  found  necessary  to  thrust  the  handspike  down  his 
mouth  again.  He  very  soon  died  really,  and  we  looked  at  him.  He 
was  five  feet  four  inches  from  the  nose  to  end  of  tail ;  fore  fins, 
fifteen  inches  long  ;  back  fin,  nine  inches  ;  tail,  eighteen  inches ; 


86  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

quite  a  young  one.  He  had  evidently  been  feeding  pretty  heart- 
ily, because  in  his  stomach  we  found  several  large  pieces  of  squid, 
a  fish  that  is  said  to  grow  to  as  large  a  size  as  any  in  the  ocean. 
There  were  a  couple  of  little  fishes  swimming  about  him  and 
clinging  to  his  back,  while  in  the  water,  and  one  of  ihem  clung  so 
tight,  that  he  came  up  on  deck  with  him.  It  was  a  sucker,  which 
I  have  in  spirits,  and  will  try  to  send  home. 

In  the  afternoon  the  mate  caught  a  bonito,  a  fish  about  two 
feet  long,  and  perhaps  six  inches  in  diameter  in  the  middle.  He 
was  perfectly  round  in  every  part  from  the  head  to  the  tail;  on 
the  back  he  was  of  a  most  beautiful  purple,  and  the  belly  was 
white  and  golden  yellow  in  streaks,  the  colors  gradually  mingling 
with  red.  Altogether  I  do  not  wonder  lhat  the  Portuguese  called 
him  bonito,  the  beautiful.  The  fins  on  the  back  and  side  fold 
up  like  a  fan,  and  can  be  laid  so  close  to  the  body  that  you  may 
pass  your  hand  over  them  without  feeling  them.  Its  great  pecu- 
liarity, however,  consists  in  the  heart,  which  is  double,  the  largest 
part  being  red  and  the  other  white.  The  abdominal  cavity  is 
very  small,  and  the  fish  is  almost  a  solid  mass  of  flesh.  We  had 
part  of  it  cooked,  and  it  formed  a  not  unpalatable  dish. 

Thursday,  Feb.  17th.  To-day  I  paid  a  visit  aloft,  and  went 
out  to  the  end  of  the  main-top-gallant-yard,  which  is  consider- 
ably higher  than  the  cross-trees;  but  the  reason  I  did  it  was, 
I  found  they  had  fixed  a  ladder  from  the  cross-trees  to  the  royal- 
mast,  so  that  there  was  no  difficulty.  Being  now  used  to  being 
aloft,  I  sat  on  the  yard-arm  for  some  time  and  enjoyed  the  pros- 
pect. It  is  like  being  at  the  top  of  a  steeple.  I  went  up  again 
by  moonlight,  and  the  view  was  very  beautiful,  even  sublime. 

We  crossed  the  line  sometime  last  night,  and  were  at  twelve  M. 
in  lat.  27'  south.  That  is  a  very  good  passage.  It  was  just  four 
weeks  yesterday  since  leaving  New  York,  and  four  weeks  to-day 
since  leaving  Sandy  Hook.  This  is  one  of  the  great  divisions  of 
our  voyage.  We  shall  now  begin  to  ask  how  long  it  will  be  be- 
fore we  pass  the  Cape,  and  then,  how  long  to  the  straits  of  Sunda? 

Friday.  Feb.  18th.  Took  the  south-east  trade-wind  about,  four 
o'clock  this  morning,  and  we  are  now  moving  off  gaily  in  a 
8outh*west  course.  We  shall  ruu  down  now  towards  South 
America. 

This  is  my  birth-day.  Another  mile-stone  in  the  journey  of 
my  life  is  past.  I  have  come  by  a  smooth  road  so  far,  and  it  does 
not  seem  long;  but  I  cannot  tell  what  my  road  shall  be  hereafter, 
nor  how  long.  I  often  feel,  when  I  look  back,  as  Milton  did  on 
the  same  occasion. 

"  My  hasting  days  fly  on  with  full  career, 
But  my  late  spring  no  bud  :>r  blossom  showeth." 

But  let  them  fly— 

"  If  I  have  grace  to  use  them  so, 
As  ever  in  my  great  taskmaster's  eye." 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  87 

Aye — and  let  them  speed  their  flight.  I  would  not  he  impa- 
tient, I  would  not  desert  my  post,  however  incompetent  to  fill  it, 
nor  however  great  its  dangers,  till  my  discharge  comes.  But  if 
they  hasten  on, 

"  They'll  waft  m?  sooner  o'er 

Tliis  life's  tempestuous  s?a, 
Then  I  shall  reac1!  the  peaceful  shore 
Of  blest  eternity." 

This  has  been  a  very  pleasant  day  ;  too  warm  to  be  in  the  sun, 
but  in  the  upper  cabin  we  had  a  cool  breeze  all  day,  and  the  awn- 
ing and  sails  keep  the  sun  from  beating  on  the  roof.  A  shoal  of 
porpoises  were  playing  under  the  bows  of  the  vessel  for  some  time, 
but  (hey  were  "  old  fellows,"  and  kept  out  of  the  harpoon's  way. 
In  the  evening,  saw  the  Southern  Cross  for  the  first  time.  It  has 
not  been  visible  before,  until  after  I  had  gone  to  bed.  I  do  not 
think,  however,  that,  any  of  the  constellations  I  have  seen  are  as 
splendid  as  that  of  Orion. 

A  '  booby'  was  flying  about  the  ship  for  several  hours  this  after- 
noon and  evening,  and  we  thought  would  have  lighted  on  the 
rigging  ;  but  he  did  not.  A  '  noddy,'  however,  lighted  on  the  top- 
sail yard,  but  when  the  boys  went  up  to  catch  him,  he  flew  off  to 
another  part  of  the  ship,  and  kept  out  of  harm's  way.  The  booby 
is,  I  should  think,  as  large  as  a  goose,  with  very  long  wings  ;  the 
noddy,  as  large  as  a  large  pigeon.  The  reason  why  we  saw  so 
many  fish  and  birds  the  other  day  was,  that  we  were  between  the 
north-east  and  south-east  trades,  where  probably  many  things, 
that  they  use  as  food,  had  been  collected  by  the  action  of  the 
winds  and  waves  tending  to  the  same  point. 

Saturday,  Feb.  19th.  A  bark  to  the  westward,  bound  in  the 
same  direction  with  ourselves  ;  she  is  probably  English,  from  "  the 
cut  of  her  jib."  Hoisted  our  colors,  an  1  she  hers  ;  but  as  she  is  to 
leeward,  we  cannot  see  them  well.  Wrote  a  short  letter  this  after- 
noon to  send  home,  if  we  happen  to  speak  a  homeward-bound 
vessel.  Mr.  K.  thinks  we  shall  see  one  to-morrow;  so  does  the 
captain.  Why,  it  would  be  hard  to  say ;  I  hope,  however,  it  will 
not  be  before  Monday. 

Nothing  bothers  a  sailor  so  much  as  a  calm.  We  are  now 
(ten  P.  M.)  quite  becalmed  ;  and  the  second  mate  is  walking  about, 
and  saying.  ;{  Anything  but  a  calm.  It  takes  all  of  Job's  patience 
to  bear  this.  I'd  rather  have  a  gale  than  lhis,"&c.  Yet  to  me  it 
is  very  pleasant  ;  perhaps  it  would  not  be  if  Ion?  continued;  but 
this  afternoon  aboul,  five  o'clock,  it  was  very  delightful.  I  took  a 
chair  and  sat  out  on  deck,  under  the  shade  of  the  sails.  There 
was  just  a  little  light  air  that  played  about,  making  it  pleasant; 
the  sea  was  gently  heaving,  and  almost  as  smooth  as  if  it  were 
molten  glass,  and  the  mild  radiance  of  the  setting  sun  was  reflected 
on  the  clouds.  All  seemed  just  as  Saturday  evening  ought  to  be, 
• — preparing  for  the  rest,  of  the  Sabbnth.  I  took  out  the  book, 
"American  Poetry,"  which  the  Misses  P.'s  gave  me,  just  five  weeks 


88  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

ago  to-night,  and  read  several  of  the  devotional  pieces?.  I  had 
read  some  of  them  before,  but.  they  never  seemed  sc  beautiful. 
One  of  them  was  "  The  Farewell." 

"  My  native  land  adieu,  adieu, 
My  course  is  o'er  the  sea ; 
I  sail  upon  the  waters  blue, 
Far,  far  away  from  thee." 

Talking  with  the  ladies  this  evening,  we  concluded  to  form  a  Bible 
class,  to  meet  once  or  twice  a  week,  and  study  portions  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testament.  I  do  riot  know  yet  how  it  will  turn  out,  nor 
how  many  of  the  passengers  and  officers  will  attend.  It  may  lead 
to  great  results.  It  may  not. 

Sabbath,  Feb.  20th.  A  very  delightful  day,  except  that,  we 
are  becalmed  most  of  the  day.  However,  that,  made  it  all  the 
pleasanter  for  me,  on  account  of  its  being:  the  Sabbath,  and  thereby 
giving  us  a  quiet  time.  Preached  on  Ephesians  v.  16,  "Redeem- 
ing the  time," — a  duty  greatly  neglected  on  shipboard.  In  the  af- 
ternoon we  did  see  a  sail,  homeward  bound,  but  ten  or  twelve  miles 
off,  and  the  breeze  so  light,  that  there  was  no  chance  of  our  speak- 
ing her.  The  captain  was  greatly  disappointed.  He  came  away 
from  home  almost,  sick,  and  is  very  anxious  to  write  to  his  wife. 
He  is  a  very  kind-hearted  man,  and  often  speaks  of  his  family  with 
very  great  affection. 

Our  sunsets  now  are  very  splendid.  The  sky  is  quite  as  beauti- 
ful as  I  ever  saw  it  at  Princeton  ;  and  if  there  were  only  the  green 
fields  and  waving  forests  to  receive  the  last,  rays  of  light,  the  pros- 
pect would  be  quite  as  fine  as  it  commonly  is  on  land.  Captain 
Lovett  is  a  great  admirer  of  such  scenes.  After  tea,  I  sat  out  at 
the  stern  alone,  and  sang  over  a  number  of  our  old  favorite  tunes. 
No  one  here  cares  much  about,  music  ;  arid  I  generally  go  by  my- 
self when  I  wish  to  sing ;  but  in  a  ship,  with  so  many  around,  it 
is  impossible  to  be  all  alone. 

Monday,  Feb.  21st.  Trade-wind  commenced  blowing  quite 
strong  a  little  before  daylight,  and  we  are  dashing  on,  seven  or 
eight  miles  an  hour.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  motion  in  the  ship, 
and  I  have  felt  rather  queer  all  morning.  In  fact,  had  to  lie  down 
before  dinner. 

Tuesday,  Feb.  22d.  Still  a  good  deal  of  motion,  and  all  of 
us  more  or  less  "  uncertain,"  and  very  quiet.  Had  a  very  heavy 
shower  of  rain  this  morning;  and  the  watch  on  deck  were  busy 
washing  their  clothes.  They  generally  roll  up  their  trowsers  above 
their  knees,  and  then  kneel  down  on  deck,  spread  their  clothes  out 
before  them,  and  scrub  them  with  a  scrubbing-brush.  So  much 
water  runs  about  the  decks  when  it  rains,  that  they  do  not  need  a 
tub  for  the  first  soaking.  They  then  rinse  them  out,  and  fasten 
them  up  in  the  fore-rigging  to  dry. 

Shortly  after  the  rain  commenced,  I  looked  out  and  saw  the 
captain  standing  at  the  helm,  with  the  wheel  in  his  hands.  He 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  89 

has  taken  it,  till  the  helmsman  could  go  and  get  his  oil-cloth 
jacket.  This  was  a  little  thing,  but  "  straws  show  which  way 
the  wind  blows."  Many  a  captain  would  not  have  showed  so 
ni'ich  consideration  for  a  sailor.  I  think  our  crew  are  very  well 
off.  Their  potatoes,  and  soup,  and  beef,  often  look  very  tempting; 
arid  as  for  their  "duff,"  (a  contraction  for  dough.)  I  have  seen 
many  a  plain-pudding  that  did  not  look  a  bit  better.  They  are 
also  provided  with  pewter  plates,  and  knives  and  forks,  at  their 
meals  :  this  is  an  unheard-of  allowance.  "  They  are  the  first  of 
their  family  that  ever  used  them."  It  was  thought  at  first  that 
they  would  not  care  about  having  them  ;  and  the  captain  asked 
the  cook  one  day,  if  the  men  took  their  plates  ?  "Take  them  !  why 
they  call  for  them  as  regularly  as  if  they  had  a  right  to  them!" 
Oar  "  gentlemen  rope-handlers,"  as  they  call  themselves1  are  a 
fine-looking  set.  I  often  notice  their  arms,  which  are  large  and 
strong. 

This  arises  from  their  constant  use  of  their  arms,  by  which  the 
muscles  become  very  strongly  developed.  Almost  all  of  them 
have  some  device  tattooed  on  their  arms.  One  has  an  anchor; 
another,  a  tree;  another,  a  ship;  some,  a  ship  and  the  star-span- 
gled banner;  several  have  a  young  man  and  young  woman  hand- 
in-hand,  very  neatly  done.  They  go  about  decks  dressed  in  check 
or  red  flannel  shirts,  and  trowsers,  with  low-crowned  hats  and 
shoes,  or  no  shoes,  just  as  suits  their  fancy.  The  sail-maker 
"  likes  these  China  voyages,  a  man  don't  wear  out  a  pair  of  shoes 
in  a  year."  Very  few  use  suspenders ;  they  hold  their  trowsers 
up  by  a  leather  belt  round  the  waist ;  and  to  this  belt  is  attached 
a  sheath,  in  which  they  carry  their  knives:  each  one  carries  a 
butcher-knife,  which,  like  the  sailor  himself,  is  a  "jack  of  all 
trades."  They  use  it  to  scrape  the  paint  and  tar  off  the  ship,  to 
cut  and  trim  the  ropes  and  sails,  in  most  ships,  to  carve  their  salt 
beef  with,  and  to  supply  at  once  the  place  of  knife,  fork,  and 
spoon. 

Thursday,  Feb.  24th.  A  delightful,  pleasant  day.  Captain 
"  never  knew  so  much  fine  weath^at  once  on  an  outward-bound 
voyage."  Having  finished  Neal's  History  of  the  Puritans,  I  com- 
menced B  incroft,  which  is  quite  a  relief.  The  evenings  are  so 
beautiful,  an  1  the  moon  shines  with  such  brightness,  that  I  have 
spent,  several  of  the  past  evenings  on  deck.  So  netimes  gazing  on 
the  evening  sky,  and  suffering  all  kinds  of  calm  imaginations  to 
float  through  the  mind,  remembering  and  repeating  scraps  of  poe- 
try, like  this — 

"  How  many  days  with  mnte  adieu, 

Htvfi  ffoni  down  yon  untrodden  sky, 
And  still  it  looks  as  ctear  and  bine 
As  when  it  first  was  hung  on  high." 

Sometimes  learning  the  names  of  different  stars,  and  comparing 
their  colors  and  positions.  You  know  what  the  Apostle  says — 
"  one  star  diifereth  from  another  star  in  glory."  I  often  wonder 


90  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

I  never  observed  that  before,  for  (he  glory  of  Sirius,  wilh  its  more 
than  lunar  brightness,  differs  widely  from  the  red  blaze  of  Arctui  us  ; 
and  Oanopus  and  Capella,  and  Rrgulus  and  Ahh'baran,  lave 
colors  that  the  vocabulary  of  the  earth  can  hardly  name.  Truly 
the  heavens  declare  the  glory  of  God.  At  other  times  I  walk  on 
deck,  and  think  of  the  past,  and  the  present,  and  the  future. 
Sunshine  and  showers,  and  smiles  and  tears,  and  lofty  oak.s  and 
little  flowers,  mountains  and  valleys,  and  rich  and  poor, — where 
was  the  one  ever  seen,  that  the  other  was  not  by? 

Had  a  long  talk  with  the  sailmaker  to-night.  He  is  by  birth  a 
Swede,  but.  left  Sweden  at  the  age  of  four  years  ;  has  been  at  sea 
twenty-eight  years;  shipwrecked  three  or  four  times;  once.  o'T 
Cape  Horn  ;  once,  seven  days  without  a  mouthful  of  food  ;  ano- 
ther time,  seventeen  days  on  so  short  an  allowance,  that  at  the 
end  of  that  time  hardly  one  of  the  crew  could  wralk  ;  once,  nearly 
dead  from  an  attack  of  fever  caused  by  giving  up  tobacco,  which 
he  was  obliged  to  resume  again.  He  seems  to  be  a  serious  sort  of 
a  man  ;  has  a  number  of  pious  phrases,  and  said  that.  "  he  could 
spend  two  Sundays  as  easily  as  one ;  always  plenty  to  do  on  Sun- 
day,"— meaning  that  the  Sabbath  never  hung  heavy  on  his  hands. 
He  says  he  reads  his  Bible  a  great  deal,  but  often  wishes  he  could 
get  a  great  many  parts  of  it  explained,  "  which  worry  and  bother" 
him.  This  was  just  what  I  wanted,  and  it  was  in  fact  the  reason 
why  I  commenced  talking  with  him,  that  I  might  propose  the  for- 
mation of  a  Bible  class.  I  accordingly  did  so.  and  he  seemed  very 
glad,  and  said  he  would  try  and  get  some  more  to  join  him,  and 
we  shall  probably  make  a  commencement  next  Sabbath. 

Monday,  Feb.  28ih.  Fine  weather  still  continues.  On  Satur- 
day, saw  a  "Portuguese  man-of-war",  ?!.  e.  a  little  semi-trans- 
parent bubble,  of  a  pale  rose  color,  floating  on  the  water.  It  is  a 
sea  animal  substance;  is  something  like  jelly.  In  fine  weather,  a 
great  many  are  occasionally  seen  about  ships.  They  are  of  a 
triangular  pyramidal  form,  and  are  very  pretty  little  things.  The 
captain  prophesied  that  we  should  see  land  on  Sunday,  and  also  a 
sail.  Sunday  came — a  fine  d^r.  '"  We  always  have  fine  weal  her 
on  Sunday."  Preached  in  the  morning  on  the  Messianic  prophe- 
cies of  Genesis;  attention  not  so  good  as  heretofore,  and  I  was 
afterwards  a  good  deal  disappointed  when  the  sailmaker  told  me 
that  he  had  spoken  to  several  of  the  men  about  forming  a  Bible 
class,  but  they  were  ashamed  to  be  seen  in  such  an  employment; 
several  "would  like  to,  but  if  they  did  all  the  rest  would  be  at 
them."  However,  I  have  not  given  up  hope  yet.  We  had  hardly 
got  through  wilh  the  service  in  the  morning,  when  the  second 
mate,  whose  look-oul  it  was,  said  that  land  was  in  sight.  It  was 
the  Island  of  Trinidad,  and  the  rocks  of  Martin  Vas — Lat.  20° 
28'  S.  Lon<r.  20°  50'  W.  When  we  saw  them  first,  they  were 
twenty  or  thirty  miles  off;  but  we  afterwards,  in  the  course  of  (he 
afternoon,  passed  within  ten  or  twelve  miles  of  the  rocks  of  Mar- 
tin Vas.  If  you  will  excuse  my  drawing,  I  will  give  you  a  sketch, 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  91 


partly  from  some  pencil  marks  at  the  time,  and  partly  from  memory. 
The  rocks  are  quite  barren.  There  are  a  few  trees  on  Trin- 
idad. It  is  very  common  for  ships  to  pass  along  in  sight  of 
these  rocks,  their  longitude  being  well-known,  to  test  their  chro- 
nometers. 

I  believe  almost  everybody  on  board  "keeps  a  journal."  The 
capt.ain  has  his,  the  mates  theirs,  the  ladies  theirs.  Most  of  (he 
men  in  the  forecaslle  have  theirs.  The  boys  down  in  the  steer- 
age each  have  one,  and  this  evening  I  found  Bennet  writing  up 
his  journal  too,  though  he  is  not  able  to  read  at  all !  So  the 
voyage  of  the  Huntress  will  not  probably  be  forgotten  entirely. 
Bennet.  puts  down  all  the  vessels  we  see.  and  the  islands  we  pass. 
I  asked  him  if  he  said  anything  about  the  whales?  "Oh  no,  sir, 
I  have  been  this  way  before,  and  they  a'n't  nothing  strange  to 
me." 

Tuesday,  March  1st.  Even  warmer  than  yesterday,  and  still 
less  wind.  What  there  is  however  is  directly  aft,  and  there  is  con- 
sequently a  pleasant  draft  through  the  cabins.  The  poor  cook 
has  a  warm  place,  a  little  before  meal  times.  The  captain  went 
there  after  dinner  to  light  his  cigar,  and  found  the  cook  wiping  the 
sweat  off  his  face.  "Oh  dear!  dear!  if  it's  SJD  in  the  cabin,  I'd 
like  to  know  what  it  is  here !"  The  boys  put  their  shoes  on  to- 
day, to  protect  their  feet  on  the  hot  decks.  A  sail  has  been  in 
sight  all  day  from  the  topsail-yard,  but  not  from  the  decks,  proba- 
bly going  like  ourselves. 

In  the  evening  I  was  talking  with  the  second  mate.  He  was 
on  a  whaling  voyage  once,  and  in  a  boat  which  had  struck  a 
sperm  whale.  The  animal  went  down  and  came  up  headforemost 
and  mouth  wide  open,  directly  under  the  boat,  and  lifted  it  about 
eight  feet  out  of  the  water.  His  teeth  went  through  the  bottom  of 
the  boat  in  several  places;  but  he  went  down  again,  and  let  them 
down  into  the  water  without  further  injury.  They  managed  to 
secure  the  whale,  but  they  found  it  somewhat  difficult  to  keep  the 
water  from  coming  into  the  boat  too  freely,  at  the  holes  his  teetli 
had  made. 


92 


MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 


Wednesday,  March  2d.  Rain  in  the  morning,  and  a  much  pleas- 
anter  day.  Progress  slow.  Have  already  lost  all  the  comparative 
advantages  of  our  speedy  passage  to  the  line,  and  the  officers 
would  now  be  willing  to  compound  for  ninety  days  to  Angier,  or 
even  more. 


.STITIAI.      COLURE 


After  prayers  I  went  out  to  gaze  at  the  stars,  paying  particular 
attention  to  (hose  about  the  south  pole.  I  think  that  this  is  ihe 
most  splendid  part  of  the  heavens ;  or  at  least,  that  it  will  very 
well  compare  wilh  that  part  of  which  the  constellation  Orion  is  the 
centre.  These  stars  are  all  seen  atone  view;  and  though  there 
are  a  good  many  others  around,  yet  they  are  all  smaller  than  those 
I  have  put  down,  and  also  much  less  numerous  than  in  other 
parts  of  the  heavens,  and  consequently  one  sees  the  larger  stars 
much  more  distinctly.  Of  those  I  have  put  down,  the  Southern 
Cross  is  a  very  beautiful  object.  It  is  more  like  a  boy's  kite,  how- 
ever. And  the  Southern  Triangle  is  also  very  conspicuous,  be- 
cause there  are  almost  no  other  stars  near  it.  The  most  remark- 
able, however,  of  all  these  stars,  is  Bungula.  It  changes  color 
every  two  or  three  minutes,  from  a  bright  red  to  a  beautiful  sea- 
green,  and  is  constantly  twinkling.  Looking  at  it  through  cap- 
tain's spy-glass,  it  showed  the  red  and  green  colors  combined.  The 
captain  says  he  can  see  only  the  twinkling,  but  Mr.  B.,  the  mate, 
and  myself,  have  all  remarked  the  alternations  of  red  and  green. 
These  stars,  however,  are  not  the  only  wonders  of  this  part  of  the 
heavens. 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  93 

In  clear  nights  when  the  moon  is  not  shining,  we  see  also  the 
Magellan  clouds.     These  are  three  in  number,  in  the  form  of  lei 
ter  V. 


A,  at  the  vertex  of  the  letter,  is  situated  between  Acrux  and 
Beta  in  the  cross.  It  is  black,  but  right  in  the  middle  is  a  single 
star  or  luminous  opening,  that  may  be  seen  with  the  naked  eye, 
and,  examined  through  the  telescope,  is  quite  bright.  B  is  a  large, 
white  cloud,  but  no  stars  are  seen  in  it,  at  least  not  with  the  naked 
eye ;  and  C  is  about  one  third  as  large.  B  and  C  are  about  as 
bright  as  the  milky-way. 

After  gazing  at  these  wonderful  objects,  I  turned  the  spy-glass 
to  look  at  the  Pleiades.  One  has  no  idea, on  looking  at  them  with 
the  naked  eye,  of  the  number  and  beau.  »f  the  stars  in  the  clus- 
ter, as  seen  through  a  spy -glass. 

Thursday,  March  3d.  A  little  rain  a.  .  wind  in  the  morning; 
a  dead  calm  from  ten  A.  M.  till  after  sunset ;  a  sea  as  smooth  as 
glass,  all  the  while;  showers  after  dark,  and  a  light  wind  after- 
wards, which  continued  all  the  night,  were  the  external  appear- 
ances of  this  day.  A  solitary  porpoise  showed  himself  under  the 
bows  of  the  boat,  but  after  playing  about  a*  little,  as  if  in  mockery 
of  our  motionless  condition,  he  swam  away.  The  motions  of  the 
porpoise  are  exceedingly  rapid,  and  when  the  ship  is  going  ten 
miles  an  hour,  they  will  frequently  collect  together  and  sport  in 
the  foam,  directly  underneath  her  bows. 

I  had  a  long  talk  about  cockroaches.  The  captain  said  he 
was  in  a  ship  where  there  were  so  many  that  the  captain  offered 
the  boys  a  bottle  of  porter  for  every  five  hundred  they  caught,  and 
that  they  often  obtained  that  many  in  a  single  night.  The  por- 
ter, however,  was  sour,  or  he  would  not  have  been  so  liberal.  I 
have  seen  none  in  this  ship,  which,  from  this  account,  is  a  great 
relief. 

Saturday,  March  5th.  The  men  were  at  work  on  the  rigging 
all  day  yesterday  and  to-day,  and  their  long-drawn  and  strange 
cries,  the  development  of  the  muscles  of  their  limbs  as  they  pulled 
and  hauled  about  the  rigging,  and  the  numerous  knots  and  splices 
and  contrivances  to  secure  the  rigging,  have  afforded  me  a  good 


9i  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

deal  of  instructive  amusement.  A  sail  has  been  in  sight  all  clay; 
an  English  top-sail  schooner,  going  same  course  with  ourselves, 
but  not  so  fast;  she  has  fallen  astern. 

It,  seems  strange  how  the  time  passes  away.  I  have  never  on 
land  found  it  fly  more  swiftly  than  it  has  done  this  voyag«-.  Sab- 
bath comes  and  Monday,  and,  almost  before  I  know  it.  Saturday 
night  is  back  again.  My  employments  still  occupy  all  my  time. 
I  commonly  prepare  a  sermon  every  week  ;  and  as  I  meet  the 
ladies  in  a  Bible  class  on  Sabbath  afternoon  and  Wednesday  morn- 
ing, that  also  takes  time.  I  had  hoped  to  have  a  class  formed  among 
the  men,  but  am  afraid  I  shall  not  succeed.  They  seem  ashamed 
to  be  seen  engaged  in  such  an  employment.  I  stand  very  much 
alone  as  to  religious  exercises  ;  and  the  worst  of  it  all  is,  that  though 
I  am  engaged  in  the  business,  I  have  not  the  spirit  of  Paul.  I 
look  forward  with  much  fear  at  times  to  this  Chinese  mission.  It 
hardly  seems  possible,  that  I  should  do  anything  in  less  than 
twenty  or  thirty  years ;  and  yet  I  have  never  seriously  allowed 
myself  to  anticipate  that  length  of  life.  But  "sufficient  unto  the 
day  is  the  evil  thereof."  I  do  not  regret  in  the  least  the  course  I 
have  taken.  I  have  never  wished  since  1  left  home,  that  my  face 
were  turned  back  to  the  land  of  my  fathers.  Not  that  I  have  for- 
gotten you.  not  that  I  do  not  prize  its  privileges.  I  feel  most  sen- 
sibly even  here,  that  I  should  rejoice  to  go  up  once  more  with  the 
great  congregation  to  the  house  of  God.  1  feel  most  deeply  that 
there  is  an  influence  in  the  society  of  Christians  to  sustain  the  man 
of  God,  which  he  is  not  aware  of,  till  removed  from  it.  But  when 
I  look  back  on  my  short  life,  smooth  and  unruffled  and  unvaried 
by  any  striking  occurrence  as  it  may  seem  to  others  to  have  been, 
I  can  mark  the  way  in  which  I  have  been  led  along  by  an  unseen 
hand,  severely  tried  and  almost  bowed  to  the  earth,  when  others 
thought  me  gay  and  unconcerned.  Yet  upheld  and  impelled  on- 
ward, time  after  time,  when  the  indolence  or  the  quietness  of  my 
own  temper  would  have  kept  me  back.  I  can  say.  "Thus  far  hath 
the  Lord  helped  me;"  and  surely  I  can  say,  "Not  unto  me,  but 
to  thy  name  give  the  glory."  If  my  master  has  so  long  led  me 
and  fed  me  in  the  wilderness,  if  he  has  so  long  guided  me  on  the 
voyage  of  life,  and  has  showed  me  so  many  favors  hitherto,  he 
will  surely  still  keep  me  and  bring  me  at  length  to  my  "desired 
haven."  If  I  might  but  give  some  proof  that  the  religion  I  pro- 
fess is  not  in  vain,  if  I  might  but  glorify  in  some  feeble  degree  the 
Saviour  who  has  so  graciously  redeemed  me,  then  1  could  rejoice 
and  die.  Yet  perhaps  it  is  best  for  me  to  see  little  fruit  to  my  la- 
bors in  my  lifetime,  that  I  may  not  depend  on  anything  short  of 
the  righteousness  of  Christ  Jesus.  It  would  be  dangerous  for  me 
to  be  looked  up  to  as  some  great  one.  "  The  Lord  reigneth — let 
the  earth  rejoice."  It  is  well  that  He  chooses  our  lot,  and  appoints 
us  our  work.  My  life  has  not  been  long,  but  it  has  been  amply 
long  enough  to  show  me  that  I  should  fail  most  vvofully,  if  I  had 
the  sole  care  of  my  own  course. 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  95 

Monday,  March  7th.  Yesterday  was  a  beautiful  day,  an  1  my 
mi  ad  was  at  peace.  I  preached  on  Phil.  ii.  6-11,  with  more  ease 
and  fluency,  and  was  listened  to  with  more  attention,  than  at  any 
time  since  coining  on  hoard;  and  when  the  evening  shades  came 
over  the  sea,  1  was  happy  still.  During  the  day  I  brought  out  a 
copy  of  the  Pilgrim's  Progress,  and  laid  it  on  the  table.  In  a  very 
short  time  Mr.  B.  was  reading  it  very  busily,  and  when  he  laid  it 
do\v'n,  the  captain  took  it  up.  "The  Pilgrim's  Progress!"  said 
he,  "I  read  this  a  long  time  ago,  I  think  I  would  like  to  read  it 
again."  He  commenced  right  away,  arid  has  been  reading  at  it 
very  busily  since.  He  said  this  evening  that  he  liked  his  b;>ok  very 
much.  Yesterday  evening  the  sunset  was  very  beautiful.  I  would 
Iry  and  describe  it.  but  can  give  you  no  adequate  idea  of  it.  You 
will  perhaps  wonder  that  I  write  so  much  abnit  the  sky  and  stars, 
but  except  in  our  own  little  world  on  board  there  is  nothing  but 
sea  and  sky  to  write  about. 

Tuesday,  March  8th.  Something  of  a  squall  this  morning.  I 
used  to  think  '•  squalls"  were  sudden  and  fearful  short  storm-!,  but 
the  word  seems  to  be  used  at  sea  with  reference  to  every  shower 
or  gust  that  passes  along.  There  is  usually  more  or  less  rain  and 
wind  in  the  squalls,  and  unless  they  are  light  it  becomes  necessary 
to  take  in  several  of  the  light  sails.  A  great  deal  of  rain  fell  this 
morning,  and  after  the  decks  were  pretty  well  washed  by  if.  the 
men  stopped  up  the  scuppers,  and  let  the  ducks  and  geese  out  to 
wash  themselves.  The  poor  creatures  seemed  to  enjoy  the  sport 
very  much,  and  played  about  in  the  water  for  an  hour  with  great 
glee.  I  pity  the  geese  especially.  They  are  cooped  up  in  a  space 
which  is  necessarily  too  small,  and  having  no  access  to  water  to 
wash  in,  (it  is  not  good  to  wash  them  in  salt  water,)  they  become 
very  dirty,  get  cross,  and  fight  with  each  other;  and  such  a  treat 
as  they  had  to-day  will  do  them  more  goou  than  anything  else 
that,  could  be  conceived  of. 

Wednesday,  March  9th.  A  fine  clear  day  and  fair  breeze.  Ther- 
mometer varying  from  69°  to  71°,  and  feeling  so  cold,  (day  before 
yesterday  it  was  81°,  and  the  day  before  that  85°  in  the  shade,) 
that  woollen  stockings  and  coats  are  in  request  again.  Saw  seve- 
ral little  birds  about  the  size  of  a  large  swallow  flying  about  the 
ship  for  several  hours.  I  have  been  quite  surprised  to  see  so  many 
birds  so  far  away  from  land.  For  several  weeks  past,  there  has 
scarcely  been  a  day  when  we  have  not  seen  some.  And  several 
times  we  have  seen  large  flocks, — once  or  twice  so  large,  that  even 
on  land  the>  would  excite  attention. 

There  is  now  no  probability  of  our  meeting  any  more  vessels, 
as  we  are  out  of  the  course  of  homeward-bound  ships.  The  "  old 
man"  says  it  is  quite  a  relief  not  to  be  afraid  of  running  foul  of 
ships  at  night.  When  he  was  in  the  Liverpool  trade,  he  said  he 
could  hardly  sleep  at  night  for  fear  of  encountering  some  of  the 
many  ships  that  are  constantly  crossing  the  Atlantic. 

1  went  up  to  the  cross-trees  to  look  out  on  the  ocean,  and  the 


96  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWR1E. 

sc.'ne  was  indescribably  grand.  For  several  miles  all  around,  the 
sea  \vas  covered  with  large  waves,  each  vave  breaking  into  masses 
of  foam  many  yards  in  extern,  and  the  noise  of  the  winds  and 
waves  together  made  it  impossible  for  me  to  hear  Mr.  B.,  who 
called  to  me  to  "  go  up  higher."  The  sun  was  shining  almost  all 
day,  which  added  greatly  to  the  splendor  of  the  scene.  Several 
albatrosses  have  been  flying  about  the  ship,  and.  though  she  goes 
eight  or  ten  miles  an  hour,  they  make  nothing  whatever  of  flying 
around  her,  sailing  off  a  mile  or  two  on  each  side  and  astern,  and 
then  coming  up  again.  It  is  wonderful  with  what  ease  they  fly. 
They  will  go  a  mile  without  any  apparent  motion  of  their  wings, 
and  that  too  in  the  face  of  a  gale,  that  sent  us  ploughing  up  the 
waves  at  the  rate  of  ten  or  eleven  miles  an  hour.  In  fact  they  fly 
better  when  there  is  a  gale  than  in  a  calm.  It  is  very  hard  for 
them  to  rise  off  the  water,  unless  there  is  some  wind  going,  but  if 
there  is  any  wind,  they  turn  their  heads  to  it,  and  are  speedily  in 
the  air.  They  will  skim  over  the  water  when  it  is  rough  with 
waves  six  or  eight  feet  high,  and  never  wet  a  feather.  The  cap- 
tain says  they  have  several  joints  in  their  wings,  (which  are  pro- 
digiously long,)  and  when  the  wind  is  strong,  they  "  take  in  a  reef 
and  shorten  sail."  I  used  to  think  they  were  all  of  one  size  and 
color,  but  they  are  not.  One  that  I  saw  was  of  "  the  first  magni- 
tude."— wings  extending  ten  feet  or  more.  There  are  others  of 
the  second,  thftd,  and  fourth  magnitudes.  They  do  not  appear, 
however,  nearly  so  large  when  seen  flying  as  when  on  d:;ck. 
Some  are  white,  some  are  dusky  brown,  some  are  brown  on  the 
backs  of  the  wings  and  white  on  the  body  above  and  beneath,  and 
on  the  lower  part  of  the  wings.  Some  have  a  dark  belt  or  ring 
round  the  neck,  and  some  are  somewhat  mottled.  I  have  not  seen 
any  other  varieties  of  color.  One  old  brown  fellow  flew  so  close  to 
the  ship's  stern,  that  I  could  see  the  white  of  his  eyes. 

Monday,  March  14th.  Preached  yesterday  on  Phil.  iii.  1 — 11. 
But  it  being  quite  a  calm,  the  swell  caused  the  ship  to  roll  so 
much,  and  the  rudder  creaked  so  constantly,  as  it  always  does  in 
a  calm,  that  I  had  not  much  satisfaction  in  the  exercises.  Bible 
class,  as  usual.  Mr.  B.  always  attends,  though  he  takes  no  active 
part.  I  find  this  quite  an  interesting  and  profitable  service. 

The  weather,  after  being  very  cold  for  three  or  four  days,  began 
to  moderate  yesterday  morning,  and  now  is  very  comfortable.  The 
wind  is  from  the  north ;  which  in  this  part  of  the  world  is  our 
warm  wind.  I  think  the  sunsets  in  this  part  of  this  hemisphere 
are  different  from  those  in  the  United  States,  but  I  have  not  yet 
observed  them  sufficiently  to  state  wherein  that  difference  consists. 
It  would  be  endless  to  describe  every  sunset,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
impossibility  of  giving  you  any  idea  of  sights  which  I  can  find  no 
words  in  any  language  I  know  to  describe. 

It  is  just  eight  weeks  to-day  since  leaving  New  York.  I  hardly 
feel  as  if  I  ought  to  say,  "  since  leaving  home"  because  it  seems 
as  if  I  had  no  right  to  say  "  home."  Ps.  cxix.  19.  I  can  truly  say 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  97 

I  never  knew  eight  weeks  to  pass  so  rapidly  away.  Our  vessel 
does  not  seem  to  glide  more  swiftly  and  smoothly  over  the  waves, 
than  does  my  time  on  its  course.  Last  summer  on  my  trip  to 
Michigan,  when  1  was  gone  just  eight  weeks,  my  time  seemed  to 
be  slowly  passing,  and  I  was  anxious  to  return  home.  Perhaps  it 
was  because  I  had  not  then  severed  the  cords  that  bound  me  to  my 
father's  house,  and  I  felt  their  attraction.  Now,  when  those  cords 
are  severed,  and  I  know  not  that  I  shall  ever  be  drawn  by  them 
again,  I  feel  as  if  I  was  really  cut  loose,  and  going  where  Provi- 
dence may  lead  me.  Yet  my  thoughts  often  revert  back,  and  I 
feel  as  if  I  could  wish,  though  I  do  not,  that  I  might  once  more 
return ;  but  I  cannot  see  anything  that  leads  me  to  cherish  the  ex- 
pectation of  returning ;  and  I  prefer  not  to  think  much  of  it. 
That,  however,  does  not  keep  me  from  thinking  of  you  and  won- 
dering how  you  are.  I  never  see  Chun  Sing  tripping  about  the 
decks,  but  it  reminds  me  of  the  way  Reuben  used  to  come  laugh- 
ing from  school,  and  of  an  evening  when  seated  around  the  table, 
the  ladies  with  their  work,  and  myself  with  a  book  or  chatting,  it 
reminds  me  of  other  days. 

Yesterday  evening  as  I  was  looking  up  at  the  stars,  one  of  the 
sailors,  a  young  man  of  very  intelligent  countenance  and  pleas- 
ing manner,  with  whom  I  had  exchanged  a  few  words  several 
times  before,  came  up  to  me  and  began  to  speak  of  the  stars ; 
then  of  the  delight  one  finds  in  knowledge.  This  led  me  to  re- 
mark, what  a  proof  that  was  of  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  that 
it  was  constantly  expanding  in  capacity.  He  then  asked  me  in 
a  very  serious  manner,  what  I  thought  of  the  question,  "  Are  any 
of  the  heathen  saved  who  never  heard  of  Christ?"  I  told  him  I 
thought  not, — speaking  of  adult  heathen ;  and  mentioned  several 
passages  in  Romans,  that  induced  me  to  think  as  I  did.  This 
led  him  to  say,  that  he  had  been  in  the  habit  of  reading  the  Bible 
every  day  on  this  voyage,  but  he  found  a  great  many  things  he 
could  not  make  out  or  understand.  I  offered  him  any  assistance 
in  my  power,  for  which  he  seemed  very  grateful,  and  said  he 
would  avail  himself  of  it.  He  then  said,  "What  is  it  to  be  relig- 
ious ?  A  young  lady  asked  me  when  in  New  York  last  time — 
'Are  you  religious?'  I  said,  'Of  course  I  am.  I  believe  in  Christ, 
— that  he  is  the  Son  of  God, — that  he  did  live  on  the  earth,  and 
that  he  died  to  save  men's  souls' — was  I  right  in  saying  I  am 
religious?"  I  told  him  that  what  he  believed  was  not  all  that 
was  necessary ;  that  many  bad  men,  and  even  the  devils,  could 
say,  they  believed  that  much.  "  That's  true,"  said  he,  with  a 
good  deal  of  emphasis.  I  then  went  on  to  explain  what  true  faith 
was,  but  much  to  my  regret  the  watch  was  soon  changed  and  he 
had  to  leave  me.  I  hope  to  see  him  again,  however,  before  long. 
I  could  not  help  thinking  at  the  time,  how  little  one  can  tell  of 
what  is  passing  in  the  minds  of  others.  A  few  weeks  ago,  as  I 
was  thinking  over  the  character  of  the  men  on  board,  I  had  set 
it  down  in  my  mind,  that  this  young  man  would  be  the  least 

7 


98  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

likely  to  think  of  religion  of  almost  all  on  board.  There  seemed 
to  be  a  sort  of  "don't  care  about  it"  air  in  him.  I  regret  that  I 
have  very  few  opportunities  of  much  intercourse  with  the  men. 
There  are  almost  always  several  of  them  together.  Indeed  I 
scarcely  ever  see  one  alone,  except  the  man  at  the  wheel ;  and  it 
is  against  the  rules  to  falk  with  him  :  consequently  I  have  few 
means  of  influencing  them  except  on  the  Sabbath.  The  ship  is 
BO  well  supplied  with  tracts,  through  Mr.  Gillespie's  care,  that  I 
find  but  little  use  for  mine. 

Saturday,  March  19th.  Though  busy  all  the  time,  nothing 
special  has  occurred  to  be  noticed  since  Wednesday.  We  have 
had  a  fine  breeze  ever  since,  that  has  carried  us  on  bravely  ;  and 
if  it  had  only  held  out,  would  probably  have  carried  us  to  the 
longitude  of  the  Cape  to-morrow.  To-day  is  Saturday,  however, 
ami  the  wind  has  fallen  considerably  since  last  night.  It  is  clear- 
ing up  for  Sunday.  There  is,  however,  a  great  deal  of  swell  in 
the  ocean,  so  much  so  that  at  times  we  are  in  danger  of  losing 
our  seats,  and  taking  a  berth  on  the  floor.  Last  night  in  the 
cabin,  we  had  quite  a  little  scene.  The  ship  gave  a  sudden 
lurch,  which  nearly  sent  the  little  lamp  on  the  floor.  Miss  G. 
caught  hold  of  it,  but  as  there  was  some  oil  on  it  as  well  as  in  it, 
she  got  a  quantity  on  her  hands,  and  nearly  lost  her  balance ; 
besides,  Mr.  B.  started  up  at  the  same  time  to  catch  the  lamp, 
and  before  he  had  time  to  take  two  steps,  found  himself  nearly 
at  full  length  on  the  floor ;  while  Mrs.  G.  and  myself  found  our- 
selves involuntarily  coming  very  close  to  each  other.  However, 
no  damage  was  done,  and  we  had  a  hearty  laugh  at  each  other. 
This  morning  Mr.  B.  and  myself  were  walking  on  deck,  and  a 
sudden  roll  to  leeward,  as  we  were  walking  over  a  wet  spot,  caused 
his  foot  to  slip  and  down  he  came.  As  he  fell  his  foot  touched 
mine,  and  I  went  after  him,  and  we  had  another  laugh  at  each 
other,  and  were  laughed  at  by  others  who  saw  us  scrambling  up 
again.  It  is  now  quite  cool.  Thermometer,  58°  to-day.  Have 
all  my  winter  clothes  on,  and  have  begun  to  think  of  my  over-coat 
and  cloak.  There  has  been  some  talk  of  having  the  stove  up, 
but  scarcely  any  of  us  wishes  it.  There  is  a  constant  rolling  in 
the  sea,  and  one  might  get  his  fingers  scorched  by  coming  too  near 
the  stove,  when  the  ship  rolls. 

We  all  seem  to  move  on  very  harmoniously,  and  the  time  seems 
to  roll  rapidly  on.  Mr.  K.  is  the  most  desirous  of  seeing  the  end 
of  our  voyage,  and  often  talks  of  Angier  and  China.  This  morn- 
ing, MissG.  remarked,  "How  quickly  the  Saturdays  come  round  !" 
"  Ah  !"  said  Mr.  K.,  "  that's  because  of  your  French  lessons." 
Miss  G.  does  not  study  with  us,  but  she  seems  to  enjoy  the  occu- 
pation as  much  as  any  one.  Nearly  every  morning,  Mr.  B.  and 
Mrs.  G.  sit  down  together  to  study  out  the  lesson,  and  it  is  quite 
amusing  to  hear  them  trying  to  translate  the  hard  places.  Mr.  B. 
has  a  great  deal  of  that  humor  which  enlivens  without  dazzling, 
and  Mrs.  G.  puts  on  a  sober  countenance,  and  asks  him  questions, 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  99 

pretending  at  times  to  scold  him,  but  evidently  enjoying  his  sallies 
of  humor  very  much  ;  while  Miss  G.  sits  by  with  her  work,  at 
times  laughing  heartily  at  a  mistake,  or  a  joke,  or  a  puzzled  look, 
as  the  case  may  be. 

Sabbath,  March  20th.  A  fair  pleasant  day  to  commence  with, 
but  soon  clouded  over.  Preached  on  2  Tim.  iii.  16  ;  but  as  there 
was  some  wind,  and  a  heavy  sea,  which  there  is  constantly  here, 
the  mizzen-mast  creaked  dreadfully,  and  I  had  little  satisfaction 
in  the  services.  Besides,  I  saw  it  was  growing  darker,  and  the 
men  were  looking  out  occasionally,  as  if  a  squall  were  coining. 
The  services  were  no  sooner  over  than  they  were  called  to  the 
ropes  to  take  in  some  of  the  sails.  So  we  had  it,  showers  and  sun- 
shine, the  rest  of  the  day.  About  nine  A.  M.,  the  breeze  freshened, 
so  that  we  went  on  ten  miles  an  hour.  This  has  continued  till 
the  present  time,  Monday,  p.  M.  About  dark,  things  looked  so 
squally,  that  it  was  thought  necessary  to  send  down  the  main 
royal-yard — the  fore  and  mizzen-royals  had  been  sent  down  seve- 
ral days  ago — and  we  had  showers  and  squalls  till  I  went  to  bed, 
after  ten  p.  M.  Going  out  about  seven  A.  M.,  I  found  that  the  greater 
part  of  the  sails  were  furled,  and  we  were  driving  on  under  close- 
reefed  topsails.  The  ship  looked  very  bare  with  so  many  of  her 
sails  taken  in,  and  as  the  sea  was  high,  she  rolled  more  than  I 
ever  knew  her  to  do  before.  The  wind  whistled  through  the  rig- 
ging, arid  our  ship  dashed  on  like  a  frightened  bird  ;  but  everything 
is  snug  and  secure,  and  as  far  as  we  can  see,  there  is  no  reason  for 
alarm.  Several  little  birds  are  flying  about,  and  apparently  enjoy- 
ing the  commotion  of  the  water.  As  I  looked  at  them,  several 
times  to-day,  I  thought  of  the  words  of  our  Saviour,  "Not  one  of  them 
falleth  to  the  ground  without  your  heavenly  Father.  Will  he  not 
much  more  save  you,  O  ye  of  little  faith !"  It  is  pleasant  to  be 
thus  reminded  of  the  presence  of  our  all-gracious  God. 

In  consequence  of  this  gale,  we  have  made  in  twenty-four  hours 
more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  ;  the  best  day's  work,  Cap- 
tain L.  says,  he  has  ever  made.  We  shall  also  be  in  the  longitude 
of  the  Cape  to-day,  making  this  the  most  speedy  of  the  seven  voy- 
ages he  has  made  round  it.  Surely  the  winds  and  the  waves  have 
had  charge  over  us.  The  air  is  cool,  but  we  are  all  in  fine  spirits, 
and  none  of  us  sea-sick  in  the  least.  Owing  to  the  motion  of  the 
ship,  it  was  almost  impossible  to  sit  on  a  chair,  and  after  several 
expedients,  we  took  the  long  cushion  off  the  transom,  and  laid  it 
down  on  the  floor,  and  sat  on  it  somewhat  a  la  Tarque ;  yet  even 
then  we  could  scarcely  keep  our  seats,  but  were  several  times  slid- 
ing off  to  the  other  side  of  the  cabin.  It  was,  as  you  may  sup- 
pose, rather  an  amusing  scene. 

Tuesday,  March  22d.  The  waves  were  even  higher  than  yes- 
terday, and  were  much  broken,  so  that  to  look  out  astern,  or  off 
from  the  side  of  the  ship,  there  seemed  to  be  a  large  number  of 
rocky  hills  in  the  sea,  and  the  ship  was  making  her  way  over  and 
between  them.  I  have  seen  nothing  so  grand  since  the  voyage 


100  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

commenced.  The  waves  would  mount  up  twenty  feet  or  more, 
and  burst  into  a  wide  sheet  of  foam  ;  while  still  further  off,  the 
white  foaming  tops  of  others  would  lift  themselves  up  in  the  hori- 
zon, and  the  constant  dashing  and  roaring  of  the  waves  combined 
together  to  fill  the  mind  with  exalted  ideas  of  Him,  who  holds  the 
waters  in  the  hollow  of  his  hands,  and  stilleth  the  noise  of  their 
waves.  "  An  undevout  astronomer  is  mad,"  but  surely  a  careless 
sailor  is  worse :  with  the  tokens  of  God's  power  and  presence  every- 
where around  him,  one  would  think  he  could  not  move  a  muscle 
without  thinking  of  his  Maker  and  Preserver.  Yet,  alas  !  he  does 
not  like  to  retain  God  in  his  knowledge.  But  though  the  scene 
was  grand,  it  was  not  very  comfortable  on  board.  Such  constant 
rolling  and  tossing  and  pitching  of  the  ship,  made  it  almost  impos- 
sible to  study  ;  and  it  was  very  fatiguing  either  to  sit,  stand,  or 
walk.  To  lie  down  was  useless,  unless  one  was  bolstered  up  on 
both  sides.  We  had  quite  a  scene  at  the  table.  One  of  the  ladies, 
just  before  sitting  down,  had  been  thrown,  by  a  sudden  and  violent 
lurch,  clear  across  the  cabin ;  and  had  she  not  managed  to  catch 
by  the  door,  would  have  gone  headlong  into  the  pantry.  As  it 
was,  she  sprained  her  arm  slightly.  After  we  sat  down,  we  had 
another  sudden  roll,  and  the  salt-cellar  turned  over  between  Mr. 
K.  and  myself;  then  the  milk  jug  emptied  about  half  its  contents 
into  the  butter  dish,  and  the  bread  and  plates  and  knives  and  forks 
began  to  look  about  them,  as  if  they  thought  of  going  overboard. 
It  then  became  quiet  again,  and  we  thought  we  should  have  some 
peace,  when  another  roll  came  along,  and  each  one  seized  all  he 
or  she  could  lay  hold  of,  and  sat  and  looked  at  the  other  articles 
flying  about  the  table.  I  went  to  bed  quite  tired,  and  having  a 
cushion  at  my  back  to  keep  me  from  banging  against  the  side  of 
my  berth,  managed  to  sleep  pretty  well. 

Thursday,  March  24th.  The  wind  began  to  freshen  last  night 
after  dark,  and  at  eight  o'clock  all  hands  were  called,  and  a  reef 
taken  in,  in  the  main-sail  and  the  top-sail,  and  the  fore-top-gal- 
lant-sail was  furled.  Turned  in  at  my  usual  hour,  but  was  wa- 
kened about  one  in  the  morning  by  an  exceedingly  heavy  shower, 
which  beat  down  on  deck  with  an  amazing  force.  I  did  not  yet 
get  up,  but  soon  found  by  the  motion  that  the  wind  had  risen,  and 
the  ship  rolled  exceedingly. 

I  think  the  sailing  of  the  albatross  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
sights  I  have  ever  seen,  and  when  several  of  them  are  together,  it 
is  really  grand.  The  other  day  I  saw  eight  of  the  largest,  size 
close  together,  and  they  flew  up  and  down,  and  one  way  and  the 
other,  and  in  circles,  and  crossed  each  other's  paths  so  rapidly,  that 
the  eye  could  hardly  follow  them  in  their  flight.  They  move  with 
such  perfect  ease,  and  have  such  complete  command  over  their 
motions — at  one  time  darting  off  like  an  arrow  from  a  bow  full 
bent,  then  slowly  rising  in  the  air  and  floating  almost  motionless 
in  the  sky,  then  careering  round  the  ship  when  at  her  full  speed, 
as  if  contemning  her  comparative  sluggishness, — I  have  watched 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  101 

them  by  the  hour.  The  beauty  of  their  motions  amply  compen- 
sates for  what  may  be  called  the  ungracefulness  of  their  bodies. 
I  do  not  think  their  shape  handsome,  though  doubtless  it  is  the 
best  for  their  modes  of  life.  How  pleasant  it  is  for  the  Christian 
to  think,  when  he  looks  at  these  birds,  that  they  are  not  beings  in 
which  he  need  feel  no  interest:  they  are  made  by  his  best  friend, 
and  he  sees  in  them  new  proofs  of  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of 
God.  It  is  transporting  to  be  able  to  say,  "  My  Father  made 
them  all." 

Saturday,  26th.  Last  night  we  had  a  strong  wind,  which  kept  the 
ship  steady.  This  afternoon  the  wind  gently  died  away  ;  for  an 
hour  we  had  a  perfect  calm.  The  ocean,  however,  even  in  the  most 
perfect  calms,  is  never  still.  The  surface  may  become  glassy,  but 
there  is  a  constant  heaving ;  and  commonly,  in  calms,  we  see  what 
Edwards  calls  "  continual,  infinitely  various,  successive  changes 
of  unevenness  on  the  surface  of  the  water."  The  sun  is  setting 
in  a  cloudy  sky,  and  we  shall  probably  have  a  gale  in  a  very 
short  time. 

Monday,  28th.  Yesterday  we  had  a  fine  breeze  all  day,  though 
rather  too  much  ahead.  The  ship  pitched  a  good  deal,  which 
made  some  of  our  company  feel  quite  unpleasant.  Preached  on 
John  iii.  6.  The  mizzen  rigging  had  been  set  up  the  day  before, 
and  there  was  no  creaking.  I  found  it  a  little  difficult  to  stand 
steadily,  when  the  ship  pitched,  but  in  other  respects  was  very 
well  placed,  and  the  services  were  attended  to  as  well  as  I  have 
seen  them  before.  I  have  no  doubt,  however,  some  of  my  hearers 
would  think  it  was  "  a  hard  saying,"  though  I  heard  no  remarks. 

Numerous  stormy  petrels  were  flying  about  the  ship  in  the  fore- 
noon, but  our  expected  storm  did  not  come.  The  air,  however, 
was  exceedingly  damp  all  day  and  all  this  morning.  It  is  now, 
however,  clearing  away,  and  the  sun  is  shining  very  pleasantly. 

Tuesday,  29th.  The  sail  we  saw  yesterday  is  out  of  sight  now. 
We  have  walked  away  from  her,  and  made  five  degrees  of  longi- 
tude in  twenty-four  hours.  It  is  remarkable  how  fond  a  whole 
ship's  company  are  of  praising  a  good  ship :  the  captain  says, 
"  The  Huntress  steers  like  a  duck  ;"  Mr.  K.,  "  We  had  a  famous 
run  last  night;"  one  of  the  boys,  "  The  Huntress  can't  be  beat ;" 
mate,  "  What  better  than  this  would  any  one  want  ?"  The  fog 
and  mist  came  down  again  last  night  like  small  rain ;  they  call  it 
a  Scotch  mist.  It  is  caused  by  the  northerly  wind,  which  we  have 
had  for  several  days ;  the  wind  becomes  charged  with  vapors  in 
the  warm  latitudes  north  of  this,  which  become  visible  in  this  cool 
place ;  though  for  several  days  past,  owing  to  some  north  wind, 
the  weather  has  been  very  pleasant. 

I  suppose  Roberts  is  to-day  finishing  his  last  session  but  one  at 
College.  I  can  hardly  realize  that  it  is  five  years  since  I  was  in 
the  same  situation.  It.  was  just  a  little  before  that,  perhaps  two 
or  three  months,  that  I  had  decided  to  be  a  missionary.  What 
shall  happen  in  the  next  five  years  ?  I  am  beginning  to  feel  pretty 


102  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

strongly  the  responsibility  resting  upon  me,  in  my  first  movements 
in  China,  and  could  wish  I  were  safely  landed  at  Singapore.  The 
rest  of  our  passengers  are  talking  with  great  animation  of  Angier, 
and  the  delicious  fruits,  &c.,  which  Mr.  K.  tells  them  they  shall 
find  there.  We  hope  to  be  at  Angier  in  two  or  three  weeks.  Mrs. 
G.  talks  most  of  Hong  Kong,  where  her  husband  is,  and  of  home. 

"  Home  !  thy  joys  are  passing  lovely, 
Joys  no  stranger  heart  can  tell ; 
Happy  home !  't  is  sure  I  love  thee, 
Yet  to  thee  I've  said  farewell." 

Yet  it  may  be,  that  I  alone  of  this  ship's  crew  shall  ever  see  home 
again  ;  who  knows?  But  I  do  not  wish  that  it  should  be  so. 

Saw  a  very  large  flock  of  stormy  petrels  to-day  ;  also  saw  a  very 
large  albatross  rising  high  in  the  air,  and  hovering  with  his  bill 
to  the  wind  ;  also  saw  the  clouds  to  the  north  in  a  position  which 
sailors  call  an  "eye."  All  these,  the  mate  says,  are  signs  of  an  ap- 
proaching gale.  The  wind  is  rising  some,  the  barometer  falling  a 
little,  and  the  spray  frequently  dashing  over  the  ship's  side.  We 
shall  see  whether  the  signs  are  true  or  not. 

Friday,  April  1st.  This  has  been  a  cold,  unpleasant  day.  Heavy 
clouds  almost  all  the  time,  and  though  no  rain,  yet  so  damp  that 
my  hands  had  a  cold  clammy  moisture  on  them  all  the  time. 
Everything  felt  damp  and  chilly.  The  wind  was  very  strong  ever 
since  yesterday  evening,  and  we  have  come  two  hundred  and  sev- 
enty miles  in  twenty-four  hours.  In  six  days  we  have  run  four- 
teen hundred  and  twelve  miles,  and  all  with  one  wind.  No  one 
on  board  this  ship  ever  saw  such  sailing.  At  the  same  time  the 
wind  has  been  so  steady,  that  there  has  been  comparatively  little 
motion  in  the  ship.  Surely  it  is  not  luck  that  has  thus  brought 
us  on. 

Saturday,  April  2d.  About  half  past  five,  p.  M.,  yesterday,  while 
the  wind  was  as  strong  as  ever,  the  mate  told  me  it  was  going  to 
change  to  the  opposite  side,  and  "blow  great  guns."  I  went  into 
my  room  about  six.  I  had  not  been  there  half  an  hour,  before  I 
felt  the  ship  rolling  from  side  to  side,  and  on  going  out.  I  found 
that  the  wind  had  "broken  off  short,"  and  light  puffs  of  air  were 
coming  from  the  opposite  quarter.  The  ship  was  rolling  about 
and  making  very  little  progress ;  so  it  continued  till  about  three 
o'clock  this  morning,  when  our  old  wind,  or  one  very  much  like  it, 
came  back  again,  and  we  are  now  dashing  on  as  before ;  so  our 
wise  ones  were  mistaken  as  to  the  course  of  the  expected  wind. 
But  it  was  certainly  very  remarkable,  that  after  the  wind  should 
blow  strongly,  without  a  moment's  intermission,  for  six  days,  it 
should  all  at  once  break  off,  and  then  after  a  short  interval  re-com- 
mence. 

Monday,  April  4th.  The  wind  began  to  increase  towards  even- 
ing on  Saturday  so  much,  that  we  anticipated  a  rough  night.  At 
eight,  p.  M.,  all  hands  were  called,  and  a  reef  taken  in  the  topsails. 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA. 

About  eleven,  p.  M.,  just  as  I  was  falling  asleep,  I  was  wakened 
by  a  loud  order,  "Furl  the  maintop-gallant-sail."  It  was  near 
midnight  before  I  got  asleep,  and  I  was  wakened  several  times  by 
the  noise  of  the  men  at  the  ropes.  The  Sabbath  dawned  with 
every  appearance  of  an  unpleasant  day.  Soon  after  breakfast  I 
was  talking  with  the  mate  on  deck,  and  before  I  well  knew  it, 
found  myself  well  covered  by  a  shower  of  spray,  much  to  the 
amusement  of  Mr.  B.,  who  saw  me,  and  of  the  mate,  who  having 
himself  escaped  with  a  slight  sprinkling,  said,  "I'm  very  sorry  for 
you,  Mr.  Lovvrie,  but  really,  I  can't  help  laughing  at  you."  There 
was  too  much  motion,  and  too  much  prospect  of  a  gale,  to  have 
preaching;  and  being  cold  and  damp,  it  was  a  very  unpleasant 
day.  None  of  us  felt  very  well,  and  we  were  all  glad  to  turn  in. 
Meanwhile  the  wind  had  gone  on  increasing ;  occasionally  rain 
fell ;  barometer  falling;  captain  on  deck  almost  all  the  time.  By 
eight,  P.  M.,  all  the  topsails  were  close-reefed,  and  all  the  upper  and 
lighter  sails  carefully  furled.  The  ship  rolled  a  good  deal,  and  it 
was  hard  to  sleep.  About  eleven,  P.  M.,  I  heard  the  men  working 
at  the  mizzen-topsail-sheets,  just  above  my  head,  and  concluded 
they  were  furling  that  sail,  a  pretty  good  sign  that  the  gale  was 
increasing.  Awoke  several  times  afterwards,  and  always  heard 
them  working  at  the  ropes ;  two  or  three  times  knew  by  the  sing- 
ing that  all  hands  were  called,  and  on  going  out  before  breakfast 
time,  found  the  gale  had  so  increased  that  we  were  lying  to,  under 
close  reefed  main-topsail,  and  main-spencer.  Sky  overclouded, 
wind  whistling,  as  if  our  ship  was  some  vast  JEolian  harp,  and 
the  sea  heaped  up  around  in  wild  confusion.  Very  little  water, 
however,  came  over  the  sides  of  the  ship,  and  the  sun  soon  came 
out,  and  made  things  look  more  cheerful.  Still  the  wind  has 
blown  violently  all  day,  and  we  have  lain  to,  making  almost  no 
progress,  but  drifting  off  to  the  south.  We  expected  to  have  seen 
St.  Paul's  to-day,  but  the  wind  has  driven  us  so  far  out  of  our 
course,  that  we  shall  not  probably  see  it  at  all.  Captain  Lovett 
was  up  and  out  all  last  night,  and  all  this  forenoon.  About  noon 
the  barometer  began  to  rise. 

About  four  o'clock  the  wind  having  moderated  and  hauled  aft, 
while  1  was  writing  the  above,  I  heard  the  order,  "Loose  the  fore- 
topsail."  "Good!"  thought  I,  laying  down  my  pen  and  running 
out.  All  hands  were  called;  fore  and  mizzen-topsails,  (close- 
reefed.)  fore  and  mainsails,  and  fore-topmast-staysails,  were  set  to 
the  breeze,  and  a  reef  shook  out  of  the  main-topsail,  and  we  are 
again  on  our  way,  after  lying  to  just  twelve  hours.  So  we  have 
had  a  storm.  I  do  not  think,  however,  that  the  sight  has  been  as 
grand  as  what  we  saw  ten  days  ago.  It  has  been  a  pretty  anxious 
time  for  the  officers.  Captain  L.  after  being  up  all  night  and  all 
forenoon,  lay  down  in  his  berth  for  about  an  hour,  and  then  came 
out  again.  I  asked  him  if  he  had  had  any  sleep?  "  Well,  I  don't 
know,  but  I  believe  I  did.  Every  time  the  ship  made  a  deep  roll, 
Chough,  I  was  awake." 


104 


MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 


Tuesday,  April  5th.  Strong  breeze  and  very  heavy  swell.  The 
«ea  is  "  troubled,  and  it  cannot  rest,"  but  the  sun  is  shining  down 
brightly,  and  we  speed  on  our  way  across  the  foaming  waves.  A 
shoal  of  porpoises  were  playing  about  the  ship  this  afternoon. 
The  vessel  was  going  nine  miles  an  hour,  and  dashing  the  foam 
away  in  immense  volumes,  but  they  played  about  under  her  bows 
and  in  the  foam,  as  if  she  were  at  anchor.  The  mates  tried  to 
harpoon  some  of  them,  but  did  not  succeed.  The  harpoon  went 
into  one  of  them,  and  he  was  hauled  several  feet  out  of  water,  but 
the  iron  did  not  hold,  and  he  got  off.  Sailors  say  the  porpoises 
play  about  that  way  before  a  gale  of  wind.  Saw  also  an  albatross 
sailing  up  very  high  in  the  air;  another  sign.  Quite  a  flock  of 
albatrosses  showed  themselves  a  little  after  sunset.  I  saw  seven 
of  the  largest  size  flying  close  together ;  but  it  was  too  cold  to 
stand  and  watch  them. 

Thursday,  April  7th.  Yesterday  was  a  very  pleasant  day,  though 
rather  cool ;  sun  shone  all  day,  and  a  moderate  wind  carried  us 
gently  on.  To-day  the  wind  is  strong,  and  in  fact  is  increasing 
so  that  we  have  had  a  reef  taken  in  each  of  the  topsails,  and  all 
the  sails  above  furled.  The  wind  is  so  nearly  ahead,  that  we 
cannot  keep  our  course,  but  are  going  more  to  the  northward  than 
is  desirable.  It  is  surprising  to  see  in  how  many  different  direc- 
tions one  can  go  with  the  same  wind,  or  how  one  may  make  winds 
that  blow  in  opposite  directions  send  him  forward  in  the  same 
course.  This  is  done  by  shifting  the  yards,  so  that  the  sails  may 
obtain  the  full  benefit  of  the  different  breezes.  Thus,  one  going 
from  west  to  east,  as  we  are,  can  proceed  with  any  one  of  the 

winds  represented  by  the  arrows 
A,  B,  C,  &c.,  to  G.  Of  these 
winds,  C  and  E  are  the  best,  be- 
cause they  strike  all  the  sails, 
while  a  wind  from  D  would  not. 
Pilot  boats  can  go  with  the  wind 
Hand  J, i.e. within  "four  points;" 
ships  cannot  go  within  "  *ix 
points."  Each  of  the  quadrants 
above  are  supposed  to  be  divided 
into  eight  points,  as  in  the  mari- 
ner's compass.  The  wind  we 
have  to-day  is  G,  or  S.  S.  E.  I'm 
at  a  loss  to  know  how  you  will 
receive  this  disquisition.  If  you  did  not  know  these  things  before, 
I  take  it  for  granted  you  will  be  glad  to  learn  them ;  but  if  you 
did.  then  I  beg  pardon  for  troubling  you  on  the  subject. 

Saturday,  April  9th.  After  rather  a  restless  night,  owing  to  the 
ship's  rolling  so  much,  I  went  out  in  the  morning  and  found  all 
sails  set,  and  studding-sails  out. ;  so  we  are  "  out  of  the  woods 
now,"  with  a  fair  prospect  before  us.  This  has  been  a  very  pleas- 
ant day,  though  our  course  has  been  rather  slower  than  usual. 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  105 

However,  "  we  are  glad,  because  we  be  quiet,"  and  hope  soon  to 
be  brought  to  our  "  desired  haven." 

Sabbath,  April  10th.  A  most  beautiful  day.  The  sun  has  been 
shining  out  of  a  blue  sky,  upon  a  still  deeper  blue  ocean,  and  the 
light  fleecy  clouds  have  hung  around  the  sky  as  if  delighted  spec- 
tators of  the  peaceful  scene.  Although  not  going  rapidly,  we  have 
still  gone  fast  enough  to  leave  no  room  for  impatience,  and  con- 
sequently nearly  all  are  in  a  good  humor. 

Preached  on  John  iii.  3 :  the  nature  and  necessity  of  regenera- 
tion ;  and  was  very  attentively  listened  to.  The  mate  told  me 
'afterwards  he  was  talking  with  "  Boston  Bill"  about  my  sermon, 
and  asked  him  if  he  did  not  think  there  was  a  great  deal  of  truth 
in  it.  He  answered,  "  he  believed  there  was  ;"  but  he  quoted  from 
my  sermon  the  remark,  that  Christians  would  try  to  do  good  to 
others,  and  then  said,  "Now  I've  been  with  men  who  said  they 
were  Christians,  and  yet  they  were  trying  to  injure  others  all  the 
time."  This  is  one  of  the  many  excuses  men  make  for  continuing 
in  impenitence.  Another  that  has  equal  weight  with  the  better 
educated  part  of  our  company  is,  that^l"  Christians  are  always 
quarrelling  among  themselves."  I  think  I  shall  prepare  a  sermon 
on  the  text,  "  And  they  all  began  with  one  consent  to  make  ex- 
cuse." Bible  class  as  usual  in  the  afternoon;  so  pass  away  our 
Sabbaths.  I  sometimes  wish  I  could  again  go  up  to  the  sanctuary 
with  the  great  congregation ;  but  I  find  that  that  God,  \vho  is 
"  the  confidence  of  all  the  ends  of  the  earth,"  is  also  the  confidence 
"  of  them  that  are  far  off  upon  the  sea."  I  have  taken  "  the  wings 
of  the  morning  and  dwell  in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  sea."  Yet, 
even  here !  "His hand  leads  me,  and  his  right  hand  upholds  me." 
What  a  glorious  thing  it  is  to  serve  such  a  God  !  to  be  able  to  say, 
"  This  God  is  our  God  forever  and  ever  !" 

Tuesday,  April  12th.  Pleasant  weather  still.  A  sail  in  sight 
about  two  o'clock  ;  soon  came  near  enough  to  make  out  that  she 
was  a  whaler.  She  ran  up  the  star-spangled  banner,  and  we  the 
same  ;  presently  she  crossed  our  bows,  and  coming,  or  rather  fall- 
ing nearer,  ran  up  her  flag  again — a  sign  that  she  wanted  to  speak  ; 
so  we  took  in  all  our  light  sails,  and  put  the  yards  round  so  as  to 
make  the  ship  go  slower,  and  she  came  up  astern,  but  in  speak- 
ing distance.  Asked  us  where  we  were  from,  and  if  we  had  any 
papers  to  spare.  Captain  answered,  "  Yes,"  and  we  held  on  till 
her  boat  could  come  alongside.  They  speedily  lowered  one,  and 
half  a  dozen  men  jumped  down  into  it,  and  came  dancing  over  the 
waves  to  us.  Their  boat  was  sometimes  almost  hidden  by  the 
waves,  but  they  did  not  seem  to  mind  them  at  all.  They  were 
soon  alongside,  and  their  mate  and  a  couple  of  men  came  up  on 
deck.  They  were  rough-looking  customers  compared  with  our 
crew,  though  the  latter  were  in  their  every-day  dress.  It  was  the 
ship  Palladium,  of  New  Bedford ;  out  eight  months ;  had  1000  bar- 
rels of  oil  from  sixteen  whales  ;  had  not  seen  land  for  four  months; 
had  been  south  among  the  icebergs  ;  were  going  to  New  Holland 


106  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

soon  ;  crew  of  thirty  men.  I  asked  the  mate  if  they  had  any 
books.  "Well,  yes,  some;  but  what  we  have,  have  been  read 
pretty  often."  Captain. gave  him  two  or  three  dozen  of  news- 
papers, and  I  hastily  wYapjaed  up  a  handful  of  Tracts,  and  Dod- 
dridge's  '-Rise  and  Progress,"  and  Pike's*  "Religion  and  Eternal 
Life,"  and  with  a  silent  prayer  for  a  blessing  on  them,  gave  them 
to  him.  He  then  asked  the  captain  if  he  could  spare  them  any 
vegetables ;  and  got  a  keg  full  of  potatoes  and  onions,  &c.,  and 
then  off  again.  They  have  men  constantly  aloft,  one  at  the  fore 
and  one  at  the  main-mast-head,  who  are  relieved  every  two  hours. 
In  this  way  they  saw  us  several  hours  before  we  saw  them.  I 
ought  to  have  said  above,  that  before  I  had  fully  decided  to  offer 
any  tracts,  Mr.  Gillespie  asked  me  "Where  my  tracts  were," 
for  which  stirring  up  of  my  mind  by  way  of  remembrance,  I  was 
very  grateful.  He  had  fixed  up  a  small  bundle  for  such  an  occa- 
sion himself,  but  could  not  find  it  at  the  time  ;  so  he  wrapped  up 
a  few  in  a  "Pictorial  Brother  Jonathan,"  and  told  the  mate  of  the 
other  vessel  to  "  put  that  in  his  hat."  I  asked  the  man  if  they 
had  any  Bibles  on  boariR  "  Oh,  yes  !  we  belong  to  a  strong  tem- 
perance concern."  As  our  captain  says,  "I  would  like  to  lean 
over  their  fore-scuttle  at  night,  and  hear  what  those  old  fellows 
will  say  of  us."  Unless  our  crew  informed  their  men  otherwise, 
they  will  probably  imagine  that  there  are  two  young  missionaries 
in  this  ship,  Mr.  B.  and  myself,  with  their  wives  !  The  men 
seemed  greatly  embarrassed  by  the  appearance  of  our  ladies,  as 
they  were  in  their  every-day  dress,  which,  in  their  occupation,  is 
necessarily  a  very  ordinary-looking  one ;  and  the  perfect  cleanness 
of  our  ship  would  contrast  strongly  with  their  oil-stained,  weather- 
worn vessel. 

You  can  hardly  conceive  the  pleasure  such  a  rencontre  gives  to 
one  who,  for  three  months,  has  seen  only  the  same  faces  and  the 
same  scenes.  It  seems  to  expand  the  feelings  that  have  become 
contracted  to  our  own  little  sphere,  and  to  connect  us  once  more 
with  the  great  world  of  mankind,  some  of  whose  representatives 
we  have  just  met.  We  all  seem  to  be  in  better  spirits,  and  to  talk 
as  if  under  the  influence  of  some  excitement.  Numberless  are  the 
conjectures  we  have  formed  already,  of  their  feelings  and  occupa- 
tions, &c.  But  it's  late,  past  ten,  p.  M.  with  us,  though  it  is  hardly 
noon  with  you,  and  I  am  too  sleepy  to  pen  anything  more. — Good 
night. 

Wednesday  morning,  April  13th.  Dreamed  last  night  that  I 
was  just  leaving  home,  that  you  had  all  come  down  to  the  ship 
except  sister  Mary,  who  could  not  bear  the  idea  of  saying  farewell 
under  such  circumstances,  and  would  not  come  down.  We  were 
about,  to  exchange  the  last  words,  when  I  awoke,  and  was  glad  to 
find  that  I  had  not  again  to  undergo  the  pain  of  parting.  I  sup- 
pose my  dream  was  caused  by  having  seen  the  vessel  yesterday, 
which  carried  my  mind  back  to  the  country  from  which  we  both 
came. 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  107 

I  believe  the  mind  is  always  thinking ;  even  when  we  sleep  and 
do  not  remember  it  afterwards,  we  have  been  thinking.  Now  the 
dream  I  had  this  morning  occurred  just  while  I  was  awaking,  and 
was  probably  the  close  of  a  great  many^flights  of  fancy  of  a  similar 
kind.  Wonder  what  I  was  thinking  of  all  night ;  how  many  visits 
I  paid  you  all ;  and  how  many  old  scenes  came  up  before  my  mind. 
Shall  I  ever  know?  Can  it  be  possible  that  all  these  thoughts 
that  pass  in  the  night,  and  we  do  not  recollect  them,  are  forever 
gone?  Perhaps  in  another  world  we  may  recognize,  among  the 
sensations  we  shall  then  experience,  some  that  have  visited  us.  "  in 
the  visions  of  the  night,  when  deep  sleep  falleth  upon  us."  Who 
knows  but  that  the  ideas,  that  in  some  favored  seasons  gush  up  so 
copiously  in  our  minds,  are  but  transcripts  of  our  uiiremembered 
meditations  ?  I  was  laying  out  the  plan  of  a  sermon  yesterday  on 
the  text  "  and  they  all  with  one  consent,"  &c.,  and  scarcely  ever 
found  my  ideas  flow  so  readily.  I  know  I  was  dreaming  of  that 
subject  only  a  night  or  two  before,  for  I  recollect  of  answering,  in 
my  sleep,  an  objection  against  the  doctrine  of  election,  made  by 
one  of  our  company.  Who  knows  how  much  our  conduct  is  shaped 
during  the  day  by  the  impressions  our  dreams  in  the  night,  even 
though  we  knew  not  that  we  dreamed,  may  have  left  upon  our 
minds?  But  I  beg  pardon.  I  had  no  idea  of  philosophizing  in 
this  way.  I  wonder  if  this  disquisition  is  the  transcript  of  some 
metaphysical  train  of  thought  I  had  in  some  of  my  dreams  lately. 
It  certainly  came  unexpectedly.  "  from  mine  own  heart,  so  to  my 
head,  and  thence  into  my  fingers  trickled.  Then  to  my  pen,  from 
whence  immediately  on  paper  I  did  it  dribble  daintily."  As  honest 
John  Bunyan  says  of  a  much  more  instructive  dream. 

Friday,  15th  March.  A  strong  breeze  was  blowing  all  day  yes- 
terday, and  had  not  the  news  been  almost  too  good  to  be  true,  we 
should  have  thought  it  the  south-east  trade.  However,  it  continues 
to-day,  and  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  we  have  the  looked-for 
wind.  Thus  we  are  going  gaily  on  our  course,  without  having  to 
beat  about  among  the  variable  winds  that  are  commonly  found 
between  the  regular  western  winds  in  Lat.  40°  and  the  trade-wind, 
which  commonly  is  taken  in  Lat.  28°  south.  We  had  anticipated 
being  delayed  thus  for  three  or  four  days,  whereas  we  had  no 
sooner  lost  the  western  winds,  than  this  wind  took  us  up.  These 
are  very  curious  things.  In  Lat.  40°  north  and  south,  and  for 
several  degrees  on  each  side,  the  wind  blows  from  the  west  almost 
constantly ;  from  about  30°  to  10°  or  5°,  north  and  south,  they 
blow  from  the  north-east  and  south-east  respectively  ;  these  are  the 
north-east  and  south-east  trades.  On  each  side  of  the  equator  for 
a  few  degrees,  variable  winds  prevail ;  and  commonly  between  the 
western  winds  and  the  trade-winds  there  is  a  space  of  several  de- 
grees where  the  winds  vary  a  good  deal.  It  has  been  by  these 
regular  winds  that  we  have  made  the  greatest  part  of  our  voyage. 


10S  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER   M.    LOWRIE. 

JJEW  YORK 


VARIABLE\WINDS 


N.E.TRADE    WI 


VARIABLE/WINDS  EQUATOR 


\  . 

yS  .  E./TRADE  WINDS  \  X/  V  > 

.'\  \  \  S.E.TRADE  /WINDS 


VARIABLE'-.WINDS  \          /  -'"V 

'  V.&/GOODHOPE  /       X 


---..... 

WESTERLY    WINDS 


Excuse  the  rudeness  of  my  diagram.  The  line  sketches  roughly 
our  course  from  New  York  to  Angier.  We  first  came  well  to  the 
east,  by  the  regular  westerly  winds ;  then  south-east  across  the 
north-east  trade.  Then  crossing  the  equator  with  variable  winds,  we 
ran  off  well  to  the  westward,  across  the  south-east  trade.  Then 
after  going  as  we  could  for  several  days  among  changing  winds, 
we  struck  the  great  south  range  of  westerly  winds,  which  brought 
us  from  Long.  20°  W.  to  Long.  90°  E.,  nearly  6000  miles.  Oae 
breeze  alone  during  that  part  of  our  voyage  carried  us  1430  miles 
in  six  days  and  two  hours.  The  arrows  in  my  diagram  mark  the 
course  of  the  regular  winds. 

What  grand  things  these  winds  are  !  Just  to  think  of  one 
breeze  blowing  steadily  for  days  together  over  a  space  of  a  thou- 
sand or  fifteen  hundred  miles,  ruffling  the  surface  of  the  old  ocean, 
and  playing  with  a  giant  strength  among  his  hoary  locks  !  And 
then  when  the  rain  comes  down  in  wide-spread  torrents,  and  the 
voice  of  the  thunder  sounds  along  the  waves,  how  does  the  gran- 
deur of  the  scene  put  to  shame  our  bellows  and  our  watering-pots, 
our  mimic  experiments,  and  our  boasted  inventions  for  controlling 
the  laws  of  nature  !  Who  can  talk  of  the  greatness  of  man,  when 
surrounded  by  such  proofs  of  the  omnipresent  power  of  God  ?  Tj'ue, 
it  is  a  wonderful  thing  to  see  a  little  ship  urge  onward  her  course 
among  such  mighty  elements,  and  some  may  say,  "Behold  here 
the  power  of  man  !  superior  to  the  winds  and  the  waves."  But 
who  filled  man's  heart  with  the  wisdom  to  invent  and  guide  a 
vessel  over  such  abysses,  amid  such  contending  forces?  He  may 
laugh  when  it  is  calm,  but  when  storms  arise,  and  he  is  "  at  his 
wits'  end."  he  will  acknowledge  that  there  is  a  God  who  reigneth 
in  the  earth  ;  and,  blessed  be  his  name  !  he  is  "  Our  Fattier." 

Saturday,  April  16th.   In  the  torrid  zone  again.     Warm  in  the 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  109 

sun,  and  extremely  pleasant  in  the  shade.  Our  old  friends  the 
albatrosses  left  us  several  days  ago.  I  do  not  recollect  seeing  any 
large  ones  since  last  Tuesday,  the  day  we  spoke  the  whaler. 
To-day  we  are  within  six  hundred  miles  of  New  Holland.  Our 
course  now  is  nearly  north.  "  Sail,  O  !"  Another  ship  coming 
this  way,  a  whaler ;  passes  about  five  miles  off,  and  runs  up  the 
star-spangled  banner,  or  "Gridiron"  as  the  sailors  call  it.  No 
time  to  stop ;  in  an  hour  she  is  out  of  sight.  A  dull  life  they 
must  have  of  it.  Cruising  about  for  months  at  a  time,  and  not 
seeing  a  whale ;  nothing  in  the  world  to  do. 

Saturday  night,  ten  o'clock.  We  are  now  directly  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  globe  from  you,  or  within  one  degree  of  it,  so  that 
with  you  it  is  ten,  A.  M.  Saturday  night !  and  the  Sabbath  draws 
near.  If  I  could  spend  every  week  as  pleasantly  as  I  have  spent 
the  past,  I  could  rejoice  in  long  life  ;  but  it  is  pleasant  to  think, 
that  there  remaineth — after  all  the  privileges  of  this  world — still, 
"  there  remaineth,  over  and  above  them  all,  a  rest — a  (Tu66itriauogt 
— a  keeping  of  Sabbath,  for  the  people  of  God."  Rest  is  sweet ; 
and  O,  to  think  of  rest  from  sin.  rest  from  temptation,  rest  from 
disappointment,  rest  from  sorrow,  rest  in  the  peaceful  haven  after 
long  toiling  over  the  uncertain,  restless  ocean,  and  long  struggling 
with  adverse  winds  !  Surely  it  is  well  we  have  thus  to  labor  and 
to  suffer,  it  will  make  the  end  more  joyful.  Yet  it  is  hard  at  times 
to  resist  the  desire  to  "  fly  away  and  be  at  rest."  But  it  is  well 
that  the  all- wise  God  holds  "our  times  in  his  hands."  He  will 
give  the  signal  when  it  is  the  best  time  to  cease  from  labor,  and 
therefore — 

"  Here  my  spirit  waiting  stands 
Till  He  shall  bid  it  fly." 

Sabbath,  April  17th.  A  dull,  rainy  Sabbath,  with  a  light  wind ; 
pleasant  enough,  however,  in  other  respects.  Saw  a  flock  of  fly- 
ing fish,  the  first  I  have  seen  for  several  weeks.  Cleared  off 
beautifully  before  sunset,  and  the  trade-wind  came  back  again 
strongly. 

Preached  on  Luke  xiv.  18,  "  And  they  all  began  with  one  con- 
sent to  make  excuse."  Spoke  of  the  principal  excuses  men  make 
for  not  repenting  and  believing :  as,  1.  "  I  have  not  time."  2. 
"Religion  is  a  gloomy  thing,  and  a  hard  and  mean  service."  3. 
"  The  Bible  is  so  hard  to  be  understood,  and  some  of  its  doctrines, 
as  election,  &c.,  so  absurd."  4.  "  Christians  are  hypocrites,  and 
there  are  so  many  sects,  so  that  there  is  no  truth  in  religion."  5. 
"  There's  time  enough  yet — I  do  not  mean  to  die  so."  The  atten- 
tion generally  was  better  than  I  have  yet  seen  among  the  men, 
and  several  of  them  I  observed  watching  me  very  closely  all  the 
time.  I  understood  they  had  rather  an  argument  about  the  ser- 
mon afterwards  in  the  forecastle,  though  I  did  not  hear  the  pur- 
port of  it.  Yet,  alas  !  it  seems  almost  hopeless  to  preach  to  these 
people.  Like  the  prophet  of  old,  I  seem  to  be  "  in  the  midst  of  the 
valley  of  bones,  and,  lo,  they  are  very  dry.  Can  these  dry  bonea 


110  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

live  ?  O  Lord  God,  tliou  knowest."  Yet  in  his  name  would  I 
"  prophesy  upon  these  bones,  and  say  unto  them,  O  ye  dry  bones, 
hear  ye  the  word  of  the  Lord."  And  I  wculd  also  "prophesy  to 
the  winds,  and  say,  Come  from  the  four  winds,  O  breath,  and 
breathe  upon  these  slain."  I  wonder  if  Christians  at  home,  who 
know  that  a  missionary  is  on  his  way  to  the  heathen,  ever  think 
of  praying  that  he  may  be  a  blessing  to  the  almost  heathenish 
sailors,  as  he  sails  wilh  them  week  after  week.  How  little  suc- 
cess would  commonly  attend  the  minister's  labor  at  home,  if  he 
had  not  the  prayers  of  his  people  to  assist  him  !  Yet  in  cases  of 
this  kind,  the  missionary  most  commonly  stands  alone,  and  has 
to  preach  to  some  who  scarcely  know  what  are  the  very  first  prin- 
ciples of  Christianity— to  some  who,  like  one  of  our  crew,  "  have 
not  had  a  Bible  for  many  years,  nor  heard  a  prayer  for  seven 
years ;"  to  some  who,  like  another,  know  not  that  there  is  any 
difference  between  the  "faith  the  devils  have,"  and  the  faith  that 
"works  by  love,  and  purifies  the  heart ;"  to  some  who,  like  ano- 
ther, think  that  "if  a  man  goes  to  church,  he  is  safe  enough,"  and 
that  "those  Christians  are  mistaken,  who  say  that  men  are  nat- 
urally averse  to  religion  ;"  to  men  rendered  reckless  of  danger  by 
long  familiarity  with  it ;  who  will  curse  and  swear  when  out  in  a 
little  boat  on  a  raging  sea,  seeking  if  they  may  find  a  comrade 
who  had  just  fallen  overboard  in  a  dark  night.  This  is  a  fact 
that  occurred  in  this  ship  on  the  last  voyage  ! — to  say  nothing  of 
the  evil  habits  they  acquire  on  shore,  and  the  evil  examples  they 
there  see,  and  of  the  effects  these  must  have  upon  them.  They 
have  long  felt  that  "no  man  cared  for  their  souls,"  and  they  make 
this  an  additional  excuse  for  continuing  as  they  are.  Surely  it  is 
"casting  bread  upon  the  waters"  to  preach  to  such.  Yet  God  is 
all-powerful,  and  some  things  that  have  come  to  my  knowledge 
of  late,  make  me  think  that  the  Holy  Spirit  has  not  yet  left  this 
ship's  company  to  themselves. 

Monday,  April  l&th.  Getting  read}'  to  go  ashore,  i.  e.,  the  ship 
is.  The  men  have  been  at  work  most  of  this  day  getting  the 
guns  up  out  of  the  hold  and  mounting  them.  They  were  stowed 
away  below  shortly  after  leaving  New  York.  Being  quite  heavy, 
it  took  several  men  to  hoist  them  up  out  of  the  hold,  and  they 
raised  the  song  of  "  Cheerily,  oh  cheerily,"  several  times.  This 
is  a  favorite  song  with  the  seamen.  One  acts  as  leader,  and  in- 
vents as  he  goes  along,  a  sentence  of  some  six  or  eight  syllables, 
no  matter  what.  To-day  some  of  the  sentences  were,  "  Help  me 
to  sing  a  song  ;"  "  Now  all  you  fine  scholars  ;"  "  You  must  excuse 
me  now,"  <fcc.  ;  then  comes  in  a  semi-chorus  "  Cheerily  oh  !"  then 
another  sentence,  and  a  full  chorus,  "  Cheerily  oh  s^^^^s^^^^ 
cheerily."  Just  imagine  the  sounds  and  music  of  that  waving 
line !  The  song  is  exciting,  and  heard  at  the  distance  of  the 
ship's  length  is  very  beautiful.  I  have  just  now  been  listening  to 
music  of  another  kind.  The  sea  is  smooth,  all  is  quiet,  and  we 
are  sailing  on  at  eight  miles  an  hour,  and  as  the  ship  cuts  her 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  Ill 

way  through  the  water  and  throws  away  the  waves  from  her 
bows,  she  makes  a  soft  and  pleasant  sound.  We  are  now  going 
directly  north.  The  Great  Bear  again  appears  in  our  sky,  and 
we  shall  hope  soon  to  see  the  Polar  star. 

Tuesday,  April  19th.  Warm,  sultry  day,  and  several  heavy 
showers.  What  is  the  use  of  rain  on  the  sea?  why  should  the 
water,  after  having  been  so  carefully  drawn  up  by  the  sun,  be 
poured  down  again  to  the  place  from  which  it  came  ?  Surely  this 
was  all  foreseen  by  him  who  causes  the  rain  to  fall,  and  he  had 
some  design  in  it.  It  is  hardly  a  sufficient  answer  to  say,  that 
these  showers  at  sea  are  of  great  service  to  sailors,  for  vast  quan- 
tities fall  where  no  ships  are,  and  fell  for  thousands  of  years  be- 
fore ships  sailed  over  the  ocean.  Yet  surely  they  are  of  use.  I 
have  been  puzzling  my  brain  for  a  long  tune  to  find  out  the  final 
cause,  as  theologians  say,  of  this  phenomenon,  but  I  fear  with 
very  little  success.  Perhaps  fresh  water  is  as  necessary  for  the 
inhabitants  of  the  sea,  as  salt  is  for  us  along  with  our  food.  Per- 
haps those  winds  which,  after  sweeping  for  so  many  thousands  of 
miles  over  the  salt  water,  and  in  such  hot  climates  as  this,  need 
to  be  purified  and  to  have  their  unwholesome  qualities  thus  ac- 
quired removed,  by  having  the  rain  come  and  pass  through  them, 
filtering  away,  if  I  may  use  such  a  figure,  their  impurities,  before 
they  blow  upon  the  land  or  influence  at  all  the  air  men  breathe. 
Who  knows  what  influences  are  necessary  to  preserve  the  atmos- 
phere of  the  earth  in  its  purity? — and  what  part  of  those  influ- 
ences is  excited  by  the  rains  that  fall  on  land,  and  at  sea,  and  "  in 
the  wilderness  where  no  man  is?"  But  this  is  one  of  the  "  things 
that  are  too  wonderful  for  me."  Men  pass  over  such  things  often- 
times as  uninteresting,  because  of  their  ignorance  of  what  is 
really  in  them.  So  it  is  in  regard  to  everything.  We  are  often 
told  that  the  life  of  such  and  such  men  is  uninteresting,  void  of 
incidents,  and  dull.  Professors  of  rhetoric,  and  critics,  tell  us 
that  only  great  subjects  and  the  lives  of  great  men,  furnish  suita- 
ble themes  for  an  epic  poem.  But  surely  the  life  of  every  man, 
however  poor  and  mean  he  may  be,  could  we  but  know  it  all, 
ivould  furnish  such  a  subject  for  an  epic  poem  as  would  astonish 
even  Homer  3  ad  Milton.  There  would  be  the  secret  counsels  of 
God  respecting  nim  from  all  eternity  ;  the  unnumbered  and  al- 
most the  innumerable  incidents  in  his  birth  and  in  his  after  life, 
when  good  and  evil  angels  watched  over  and  influenced  him,  and 
when  the  providence  of  God  was  busied  about  him ;  the  narrow 
escapes  from  evil ;  the  woful  falls,  or  the  triumphant  victory  ;  all 
the  feelings  in  his  own  mind,  and  their  varied  causes  ;  the  plans 
of  others  with  respect  to  him,  and  their  influence  over  him ;  the 
effects  of  his  actions,  outlasting  his  own  life,  and  reaching  far  off 
amidst  almost  infinite  ramifications  to  the  end  of  time ;  the  vari- 
ous crisises  of  his  life  ;  and  the  endless  realities  of  the  eternal 
Btate.  What  created  intellect  could  fully  comprehend,  or  rightly 
describe,  all  these?  God  kuoweth  them  all.  We  hardly  ever 


112  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

even  think  of  them,  and  yet  our  whole  life  is  spent  in  influencing 
and  being  influenced  by  such  wonderful  beings.  Verily  this  is  a 
fearful  and. a  wonderful  thing. 

About  sunset  the  ship  was  very  nearly  becalmed;  her  motion 
was  barely  perceptible ;  and  I  was  leaning  over  the  gangway, 
looking  down  at  the  little  bubbles  on  the  deep  blue  sea.  While 
thus  engaged,  my  attention  was  arrested  by  a  number  of  little  in- 
sects, no  longer  than  the  gnat  you  sometimes  see  sporting  in  the 
evening  air.  They  moved  about  over  the  cairn  surface  of  the 
water  with  great  rapidity,  just  as  the  little  water-bugs  and  spiders 
play  about  in  the  eddy  of  a  brook  in  summer.  Where  do  these 
little  creatures  come  from?  whither  do  they  go?  where  shelter 
themselves  when  storms  arise?  Or  are  they  like  ourselves,  mere 
creatures  of  a  day,  floating  about  on  the  fathomless  ocean  of 
eternity,  one  moment  sportive  and  busy,  and  cherishing  great 
hopes,  the  next  swallowed  up  by  the  dark  waters,  and  seen  no 
more  ?* 

It  was  a  lovely  night,  calm  and  clear,  a  few  clouds  in  the  sky  ; 
but  the  moon  shone  down  brightly,  and  the  large  stars  beamed 
out,  like  a  queen  in  her  royal  robes  with  her  maids  of  honor  around 
her.  Underneath  was  the  boundless  sea,  quiet  and  smooth — "  a 
great  still  mirror-sea."  and  the  moonbeams  and  starlight  were  re- 
flected back  from  the  surface  of  the  water.  But  how  different  the 
direct  and  the  reflected  light !  The  one  came  down  and  gave  a 
clear  image  of  the  heavenly  bodies  ;  thus  we  see  the  glory  of  God 
in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ.  But  the  other  was  distorted  and  bro- 
ken by  the  constant  swell  of  even  that  calm  sea  ;  so  it  is  with  all 
our  views  of  things  in  the  invisible  heavens.  If  our  faith  can  only 
gaze  steadfastly  thereon,  our  hearts  will  burn  within  us  ;  but  the 
moment  we  turn  our  sight  to  earthly  things  our  vision  becomes 
confused,  and  we  see  no  more  clearly  ;  at  best  it  is  but  "  through 
a  glass  darkly."  I  could  hardly  think  of  going  to  bed  ;  again  and 
again  as  I  turned  off  to  retire,  a  new  appearance  of  beauty  or  a 
brightly  shining  star  arrested  my  attention,  and  kept  me  under 
the  open  sky.  Once  the  moon  was  slightly  obscured  by  a  white 
cloud,  that  passed  like  a  veil  over  her  face ;  but  that  only  made 
her  more  beautiful,  for  immediately  a  triple  ciroj|  was  formed 
around  her,  of  white,  bright  orange,  and  pale  green. 

Saturday,  April  23d.  Raining  almost  all  the  night.  Towards 
four  o'clock  this  morning  I  awoke ;  it  was  pouring  down  heavy. 
Several  very  loud  claps  of  thunder,  that  came  roaring  and  reverbera- 
ting over  the  waters,  reminded  me  of  the  words  of  the  Psalmist  : 

"  The  voice  of  the  Lord  is  upon  the  waters  : 
The  God  of  glory  thundereth ; 
The  Lord  is  upon  many  waters. 
The  voice  of  the  Lord  is  powerful ; 
The  voice  of  the  Lord  is  full  of  majesty." 

*  "  Light  mortal,  how  you  walk  your  light  life  minuet,  orer  bottomless  abysses,  di- 
vided from  you  by  a  film." — CARLYLE. 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  113 

About  half-past  eight,  A.  M..  just  after  breakfast,  the  captain 
shouted,  "  Land  O  !"  and  Christmas  Island  was  in  sight.  We 
were  about  twenty  miles  off,  and  have  not  at  any  time  to-day  been 
near  enough  to  see  it  very  closely.  Its  form  is  very  well  defined 
against  the  sky ;  looks  steep,  and  very  long.  About  an  hour  after 
seeing  the  island,  Bennet  called  to  me,  "  Mr.  Lowrie,  just  come 
and  see  how  sweet  the  island  smells."  I  went  out,  and,  sure 
enough,  there  was  a  very  perceptible  odor,  somewhat,  though  not 
very  much,  like  what  one  perceives  in  a  large  pine  forest,  though 
I  think  rather  sweeter.  However,  I  felt  rather  incredulous,  for, 
though  the  breeze  was  blowing  pretty  fast  off  the  island,  yet  we 
were  nearly  twenty  miles  off,  and  I  could  hardly  believe  it  possi- 
ble. So  I  went  and  examined  the  rails  of  the  ship,  to  see  that  no 
mixture  had  been  put  there  to  create  the  deception.  It  is  said 
that  persons  going  to  Ceylon  are  often  deceived  in  this  way,  by 
having  oil  of  cinnamon  sprinkled  on  the  ship's  side.  However, 
there  was  no  mistake.  The  odor  evidently  came  from  the  cocoa- 
nut  trees  on  the  island,  and  I  stood  and  snuffed  it  for  a  while  with 
great  satisfaction.  The  island  is  in  Lat.  10°  32'  S.,  and  Song. 
105°  33'  E.,  according  to  some  of  the  Geographers,  and  about  nine 
miles  square,  uninhabited,  save  by  the  birds,  and  some  wild  hogs, 
and  having  no  anchorage.  It  is  about  two  hundred  and  ten  miles 
from  Java  Head,  and  two  hundred  and  sixty  or  two  hundred  and 
eighty  from  Angier,  at  which  latter  place  we  shall  not  probably 
arrive  for  two  or  three  days  yet.  I  feel  strongly  inclined,  if  I  can 
get  an  opportunity,  to  go  from  Angier  direct  to  Singapore.  If  I 
go  to  China,  it  will  take  most  probably  three  months  from  the 
present  time  to  get  to  Singapore.  Indeed,  the  captain  thinks  I 
cannot  get  to  Singapore  until  October,  owing  to  the  Monsoon, 
which  will  be  directly  against  me. 

I  am  in  a  good  deal  of  uncertainty  what  to  do.  My  instructions 
are  to  go  to  China  :  but  it  will  never  do  to  wait  there  until  Octo- 
ber, or  even  the  end  of  August.  This  is  one  of  the  cases  in  which 
two  are  better  than  one. 

About  sunset  the  island  bore  away  off  to  the  west,  and  we  lost 
eight  of  it.  Several  boobies  alighted  on  the  ship,  one  on  the  end 
of  the  flying  jib-boom,  another  on  the  mizzen-royal-yard,  and 
another,  more  bold,  sat  down  on  the  railing  at  the  stern.  The 
first  one  was  caught,  at  which  inhospitable  treatment  he  showed 
great  wrath,  and  bit  one  of  the  boys  on  the  leg,  uttering  some  very 
singular  cries,  which  I  know  not  how  to  describe  to  you.  They 
were  somewhat  like  the  creaking  of  a  chest  lid,  that  had  not  been 
opened  for  a  long  time,  though  not  so  sharp.  He  afforded  great 
amusement  to  the  boys,  particularly  Chun  Sing,  who,  in  the 
height  of  his  glee,  came  to  the  cabin  door,  and  called  out,  "Do  you 
want  any  boobies  here  ?;'  This  one  was  black  above,  and  white 
beneath  ;  some  are  all  white.  He  measured  four  feet  nine  inches 
from  tip  to  tip  of  wing,  and  I  suppose  about  fifteen  or  eighteen 
inches  from  bill  to  tail.  Each  wing  was  more  than  two  feet  long". 


114  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

If  the  next  day  had  not  been  the  Sabbath,  I  should  have  asked 
them  to  keep  him,  that  we  might  examine  him  more  closely. 
They  soon  let  him  go. 

Sabbath,  April  24th.  A  most  delightful  day,  perfectly  charming, 
except  that  we  were  almost  becalmed.  An  English  ship  and  a 
Dutch  brig  were  close  at  hand  all  day.  Preached  on  Matt,  xi 
28-30;  "Come  unto  me,  all  that  labor  and  are  heavy-laden,"  <fec., 
with  more  fluency  and  satisfaction,  and  with  an  attentive  audi- 
ence. It  has  been  to  me  one  of  the  pleasantest  days  I  have  yet 
spent,  for  though  wearied  and  heavy-laden,  with  a  body  of  flesh 
and  a  sinful  heart,  1  have  "  found  rest  to  rny  soul." 

Tuesday,  April  26th.  Heavy  showers,  with  thunder  and  light- 
ning, both  yesteyjay  morning  and  this;  three  ships  in  sight  all  the 
time ;  making  tolerable  progress ;  saw  an  immense  number  of 
boobies  yesterday,  and  several  kinds  of  fish.  Several  of  the  boo- 
bies, great  boobies  they  were,  came  to  the  ship  for  a  night's  lodg- 
ing, whereupon  three  of  them  were  seized  and  put  into  a  vacant 
hen-coop  to  pass  the  night.  We  had  them  out  on  deck  this  morn- 
ing, 0ut  they  could  hardly  walk,  and  could  not  raise  themselves 
from  the  deck,  their  legs  being  very  weak,  owing  to  want  of  exer- 
cise. They  have  two  joints  in  their  wings,  besides  the  joint  that 
connects  the  wing  to  the  body.  An  albatross  is  said  to  have  sev- 
eral joints  in  each  wing.  They  are  of  two  colors,  dark  brown, 
and  white,  with  black  pointed  wings ;  probably  the  colors  respect- 
ively of  the  male  and  female.  The  white  ones  have  purple  bills, 
straight,  and  about  two  inches  long.  They  were  very  fierce, 
snapped  at  everything  and  everybodv  -\  took  hold  of  my  hat 
quite  viciously  when  I  held  it  out  to  t  'Ve  let  them  go  again 

without  farther  injury.     One  of  thei  "Hdent  had  lost  a 

leg ;  but  this,  I  suppose,  with  their  its,  ..  _,  serious  an  in- 
jury as  it  would  be  to  many  other  u  ds.  Several  large  dragon- 
flies  were  flying  about  the  ship  to-day,  though  we  must  have  been 
forty  miles  from  land  when  we  first  saw  them.  Caught  a  dolphin 
to-day,  but  I  did  not  see  him  when  dying,  and  if  I  had,  you  have 
heard  enough  of  the  colors. 

We  have  been  expecting  to  see  land  all  day,  as  we  cannot  be 
far  from  Java  Head,  which,  in  clear  weather  is  visible  fifty  miles ; 
but  the  horizon  has  been  hazy  all  day.  and  not  seeing  land  before 
dark,  we  have  been  obliged  to  take  in  sail,  and  may  have  to  heave 
to  before  morning.  It  is  interesting  to  see  how  every  one  has  been 
"  looking  out"  all  day  :  men  up  at  the  mast-head  every  half-hour; 
captain  with  his  spy-glass;  cook  looking  over  the  side;  Chun 
Sing  sitting  on  the  rail ;  and  passengers  and  men  looking  earnestly 
to  the  north-east ;  but  our  eyes  have  failed  with  looking  to-day. 
We  hope  to  be  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda  by  daylight. 

Wednesday,  27th.  Sat  up  till  about  eleven,  and  just  as  I  was  going 
to  bed.  heard  "  Land  O  !"  However  it  was  far  off,  and  as  there 
was  little  prospect  of  entering  the  straits  before  morning,  I  went 
to  bed,  but  could  not  sleep.  About  twelve  o'clock,  heard  the  cap- 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  115 

tain  sing  out,  "  Loose  the  main-royal,"  "  get  out  the  fore-topmast- 
studding-sail."  I  could  not  tell  what  to  make  of  this,  for  at  dark 
he  had  taken  in  sail,  and  said  he  would  take  in  more.  Accord- 
ingly t  jumped  up  and  went  out,  and  there  sure  enough  was  the 
high  land  of  Palambang  Point  right  ahead,  and  a  noble  breezo 
carrying  us  right  on.  The  captain  said  we  should  enter  the  straits 
between  two  and  three  o'clock,  so  I  went  to  take  a  nap  before  that 
time.  I  was  amused  at  Chun  Sing ;  he  was  up,  as  bright  as  a  lark, 
sitting  on  the  forecastle,  and  looking  eagerly  at  the  land  ;  no  doubt, 
as  he  said,  very  glad  to  be  so  near  home.  At  half-past  two  the 
captain  called  me,  and  going  out,  I  found  we  were  just  coming  in 
at  the  north  of  the  strait,  between  Java  and  Prince's  Island.  Mr. 
K.  and  Mr.  B.  were  out,  arid  the  ladies  soon  cairi^felso.  The  land 
was  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  off,  and  we  could  snuff  the  fresh 
breeze  as  it  came  off  from  the  land,  and  hear  the  deep,  constant, 
steady,  heavy  swell  and  roar  of  the  breakers,  sounding  like  tho 
rushing  of  Niagara.  The  ladies  declared  that  the  scent  of  tho 
trees  was  like  the  smell  of  honeysuckles  or  clover.  The  cook  was 
up  and  got  a  cup  of  strong  coffee  for  each  of  us,  and  all  were  in  high 
spirits.  The  captain  said  it  was  "  first- rate,"  not  the  coffee,  but 
our  success.  A  ship  that  was  a  little  ahead  of  us  last  night,  was 
fairly  in  the  straits,  while  one  that  had  been  about  two  miles 
astern  at  sunset,  was  now  clear  out  of  sight,  and  we  were  boasting 
of  having  "  run  away  from  her ;"  but  alas,  what  a  disappointment 
did  we  meet !  Just  as  we  came  along  by  Java  Head,  which  is 
very  high,  the  wind  carrr>  out  ahead,  and  we  had  to  cross  Prince's 
Strait,  nearly  to  Print1  '  <nd,  where  we  were  almost  becalmed. 
Meanwhile  thesh'1"  ic  rapidly  up  with  a  first-rate  breeze, 

came  in  close  ?  J[|        shore,  and  while  we  were  tacking  to 

cross  the  strait  again,  (Vim  i{  Strait  is  only  about  four  miles  wide,) 
she  passed  us  within  half  a  mile,  with  a  fair  wind,  and  stood  oft 
gallantly  up  the  strait,  while  we,  being  under  the  high  bluff  of 
Java  Head,  could  do  nothing.  At  six  o'clock  she  was  ten  miles 
ahead,  while  we  were  farther  out  to  sea  than  we  had  been  at  three 
o'clock.  The  wind  was  before  and  behind  us,  but  we  were  almost 
becalmed. 

Meanwhile  two  ships  appeared  astern,  evidently  coming  up 
rapidly  ;  about  half-past  eight  o'clock  they  showed  their  colors, 
one  English,  the  other  Dutch  ;  both  rnen-of-war.  They  were  abrmt 
one  fourth  of  a  mile  off,  when  suddenly  falling  under  Java  Head, 
the  wind  failed  them  and  their  sails  hung  idly  at  the  mast.  We 
had  slowly  drawn  on,  and  coming  opposite  New  Island,  where  the 
laud  on  Java  is  lower,  a  delightful  breeze  sprung  up,  and  we  walked 
away  in  fine  style.  They  looked  at  us  for  awhile,  and  then  catch- 
ing the  breeze,  followed  on  astern.  In  the  course  of  an  hour  the 
English  brig  caught  up  and  fairly  beat  us.  However,  she  had 
very  large  sails,  much  larger  in  proportion  to  her  size  than  we,  but 
she  was  a  very  rusty-looking  thing,  arid  as  to  her  men,  they  were 
eo  dirty,  our  second  mate  said  that  if  he  were  there  he  would  jump 


116  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

overboard  !  They  certainly  were  not,  to  be  compared  to  our  men 
in  point  of  neatness.  The  Dutchman  sailed  well,  but  could  not 
overtake  us  ;  so  up  the  straits  we  sailed  in  noble  style  for  four 
hours,  sailing  within  two  miles  of  the  Java  shore,  and  seeing  the 
high  peaks  of  Prince's  Island,  Crockatoa,  (which  the  sailors  call 
Cockatoo,)  and  Pulo  Bessy.  The  peaks  of  Crockatoa  and  Bessy 
are  very  high  mountains,  burnt  out  volcanoes,  cloud  capt  and 
magnificent ;  while  far  beyond  in  the  same  direction  was  the 
high  land  of  Rajat  Bassa,  on  the  island  of  Sumatra.  On  the 
Java  side  were  the  Karang  mountains,  their  tops  covered  all  the 
day  with  clouds.  About  one  o'clock  p.  M.  we  came  up  opposite 
Third  point  and  found  that  the  three  ships,  which  had  got  the 
start  of  us,  were^fuite  becalmed,  in  the  middle  of  the  strait,  while 
We,  in  near  the  Java  shore,  were  proceeding  at  a  rapid  rate. 
At  dinner  time  we  were  congratulating  ourselves  on  having 
beaten  those  who  had  that  morning  stolen  such  a  march  on 
us,  when  all  at  once  the  sails  hung  idly  at  the  mast.  The 
captain  and  mate  jumped  up  and  ran  out,  and  soon  came  in, 
looking  rather  blank,  with  the  news  that  we  too  were  becalmed. 
There  we  lay  for  four  hours,  the  sun  beating  down,  therm.  89° 
in  the  shade,  and  far  over  100°  in  the  sun,  and  not  a  breath 
of  air  to  speak  of.  Busied  myself  preparing  my  letters.  A  but- 
terfly, a  wasp,  and  a  bee  paid  us  a  visit ;  and  I  often  looked 
out  to  the  high  shores  and  receding  vales  of  Java,  which  reminds 
me  strongly  of  my  own  native  land,  and  the  eastern  shores  of  the 
Hudson.  When  I  first  saw  land  last  night  and  thought  "  the 
heathen  live  there,"  my  mind  was  filled  with  thoughts  that  made 
me  seek  to  be  by  myself,  rather  than  with  our  lively  and  laughing 
company. 

Being  quite  becalmed  off  Third  Point  we  were  fain  to  wait  till 
the  wind  should  rise  again.  There  were  three  ships  there  before 
us.  The  Dutchman  soon  joined  company.  A  large  ship  soon 
came  up  the  straits  afterwards,  with  sky-sails  and  studding-sails, 
and  made  a  brave  show,  but  as  soon  as  she  came  within  the 
charmed  circle,  her  sails  clung  to  the  masts  and  she  was  still. 
We  could  see  her  name,  she  stopped  so  near,  the  Oneida  of 
New  Bedford — which  was  to  leave  New  York  the  day  after  we 
did,  and  we  suppose  left  the  same  morning,  we  sailed  from  the 
little  bay  inside  of  Sandy  Hook.  Another  ship  then  appeared  close 
under  Crockatoa  Island.  Two  more  soon  came  in  sight,  having 
entered  the  straits  by  the  main  channel ;  and  about  four  o'clock 
three  others  hove  in  sight.  So  we  made  twelve  ships,  barks,  and 
brigs,  all  becalmed  within  ten  miles  of  each  other.  It  was  a  beau- 
tiful sight.  The  English  brig  was  so  near  that  we  could  hear  the 
boatswain's  whistle,  the  bells  and  the  noise  of  the  men  at  the  ropes. 
She  was  nearest  Java  shore,  and  we  next.  About  half-past  four 
a  light  breeze  sprung  up  ;  she  took  it  first  and  sailed  off  like  a  bird  ; 
we  next,  but  it  failed  us  in  five  minutes,  and  we  came  nearer  than 
before.  Again  it  came  ;  she  was  still  nearest  the  shore,  and  got 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  117 

off  first.  We  soon  followed,  and  are  now  moving  off  five  or  six. 
miles  an  hour.  The  others  gradually  took  the  breeze  and  followed 
on  as  they  could  ;  but  the  brig  and  the  Huntress  are  ahead.  There 
are  nearly  a  dozen  native  prows  in  sight.  The  brig  soon  began 
to  make  signals  to  a  large  ship  off  on  the  other  side  of  the  strait: 
"  talked  bunting,"  as  they  say.  We,  of  course,  could  not  under- 
stand them. 

Altogether  it  has  been  an  exciting  and  interesting  day.  The 
sight  of  inhabited  land,  and  those  inhabitants  being  heathen  ;  the 
effort  to  enter  the  straits,  and  failure ;  the  mortification  of  seeing 
others  pass  us  with  a  fair  breeze,  while  we,  not  half  a  mile  off,  were 
becalmed  ;  then  the  pleasure  of  catching  up  and  passing  again  ; 
the  sight  of  so  many  ships,  and  of  the  native  prows ;  the  smell  of 
land ;  the  sight  of  noble  mountains ;  the  preparing  of  letters  for 
home ;  and  the  lifting  up  of  the  heart  in  gratitude  to  God,  that 
through  so  many  dangers,  and  along  so  lengthened  a  course,  he 
has  led  us  and  fed  us, — -surely  here  will  I  raise  an  Eberiezer,  for 
hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped  me.  And  then  to  think,  that  in 
precisely  one  year  from  the  day  I  was  first  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel,  I  was  permitted  to  see  the  land  of  nations  sitting  in  dark- 
ness, to  some  of  whom  at  least  I  hope  to  preach  the  gospel !  Is  it 
not  a  day  much  to  be  remembered  ?  The  host  of  the  enemies  are 
numerous  and  powerful,  but  I  may  well  use  the  words  of  King 
Asa  and  say,  "  Lord,  it  is  nothing  with  thee  to  help,  whether  with 
many  or  with  them  that  have  no  power;  help  us,  oh  Lord  our 
God  ;  for  we  rest  on  thee,  and  in  thy  name  we  go  against  this 
multitude.  Oh,  Lord,  thou  art  our  God  ;  let  not  man  prevail 
against  thee." 

But  if  the  day  had  so  many  things  to  be  remembered,  the  even- 
ing was  still  more  magnificent.  About  sunset,  we  were  about 
two  miles  from  shore,  directly  off  from  the  Karang  mountains. 
We  were  gliding  swiftly  over  the  smooth  waters  ;  nine  other  ships 
of  different  nations,  English,  American,  and  Dutch,  were  in  sight 
on  the  western  side,  and  six  of  them  in  full  view.  On  the  other 
side,  a  dozen  Malay  prows  were  hugging  the  shore.  Some  shoals 
were  to  be  passed  over,  which  required  close  watching  :  dark  and 
thick  clouds,  many  and  large,  were  overhead,  but  most  of  them 
tinged  of  the  deepest  orange  and  red  by  the  sun's  rays ;  high 
mountains,  five  or  six  in  number,  loomed  up  in  various  directions, 
and  above  the  highest,  Crockatoa,  was  the  darkest  mass  of  clouds; 
but  beyond  all  these  was  the  evening  star,  "  mildly  beaming  on 
the  forehead"  of  the  calm  blue  sky,  diversified  and  enriched  as  it 
was  with  the  glorious  sunset  tints.  I  looked  and  gazed  with 
almost  speechless,  certainly  with  an  unutterable  admiration ;  and 
as  the  bright  colors  faded,  the  ardor  of  my  thoughts  subsided  to  a 
quiet  comparison  of  the  varied  scene  before  me,  with  what  may 
perhaps  be  the  course  of  my  future  life.  What  is  before,  I  knew 
not ;  but  I  thought  that  a  swift,  though  perhaps  a  long  voyage 
over  the  uncertain  sea  of  life,  was  before  me  ;  that  I  should  have 


118  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

fellow-laborers,  perhaps  of  different  nations,  striving  together  to 
benefit  the  poor  heathen  whose  representatives  we  here  saw  on 
the  same  sea  with  ourselves;  that  secret  dangers  might  be  in  my 
way,  which  it  would  require  prudence  and  care  to  avoid  ;  (hat 
many  sorrows  are  impending  over  me,  but  they  shall  be  tinged 
and  beautified  with  the  favor  of  God  ;  and  thus  the 

"  Clouds  I  so  much  dread, 

Are  big  with  mercies,  and  shall  break 
In  blessings  on  my  head  ;" 

that  difficulties  are  before  me  like  mountains,  and  over  the  great- 
est and  the  least  of  them,  it  may  be,  the  most  impenetrable  dark- 
ness now  overhangs ;  but  that  above  them  all,  shines  brightly  the 
star  of  hope  ;  and,  having  at  last  surmounted  them  all,  the  peace- 
ful and  glorious  rest  of  heaven  will  open  upon  my  delighted  view. 
However  I  may  be  mistaken  in  some  of  these  anticipations,  I  trust 
and  pray  that  the  last  may  prove  true. 

After  dark  my  attention  was  called  to  the  many  fires  kindled 
along  the  coast,  probably  by  the  natives,  catching  fish.  They 
looked  very  cheerfully,  after  having  been  for  so  long  without  see- 
ing any  traces  of  human  beings,  except  those  in  our  own  little 
vessel. 

Thursday  morning.  Up  and  out  early.  Towards  nine,  p.  M., 
on  Wednesday,  were  rather  getting  behind  the  other  ships  ;  and 
the  wind  being  very  light,  and  indeed  a  calm,  most  of  the  night, 
we  made  very  little  progress  ;  by  daylight,  however,  we  were 
ahead  of  almost  all  the  other  ships.  Their  number  had  now  in- 
creased to  seventeen,  fourteen  of  which  were  in  full  view  from 
ours,  at  one  time,  on  one  side.  The  wind  being  light  and  con- 
trary, we  were  obliged  to  tack  frequently,  and  thus  often  passed 
near  them.  About  eight  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  Oneida  passed  near 
us  ;  her  captain  told  us  he  had  sailed  January  26th.  This  made 
us  start ;  caught  up  with  us,  who  had  a  week's  advantage  of  them  ! 
We  did  not  like  the  Huntress  near  so  well  for  that. 

About  half-past  eleven  in  the  morning,  we  anchored,  nearly  a 
mile  above  Angier.  We  had  almost  been  run  into  by  the  Eng- 
lish brig,  which  had  from  the  first  behaved  in  a  very  rude  and  un- 
gentlemanly  manner,  and  now  tried  very  hard  to  go  ahead  of  us, 
when  there  was  no  necessity  for  her  doing  so,  as  the  course  she 
was  taking  would  have  led  her  some  distance  under  our  stern.  I 
fully  expected  she  would  come  against  us,  and  our  captain  called 
his  men  to  haul  down  the  spanker,  lest  her  flying  jib-boom  should 
get  entangled  in  it.  However,  she  fell  astern,  greatly  to  the  rage 
of  her  commander,  who  came  to  the  bow  of  the  brig,  and  in  a  voice 
indicative  of  extreme  anger,  read  our  captain  a  lecture  on  seaman- 
ship and  politeness,  saying:  "It  was  your  duty  to  have  done  so 
and  so.  If  we  had  both  been  merchantmen ;  but,  sir,  this  is  a 
man-of-war"  Captain  Lovett  answered  with  great  moderation ; 
though  I  could  almost  have  wished  that  he  had  "  answered  the 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  119 

fool  according  to  his  folly."  We  could  not  have  gone  under  his 
stern  without  squaring  our  yards,  and  he,  if  he  had  held  on  his 
course,  would  not  have  come  within  three  ships'  lengths  of  us.  la 
his  eagerness  to  get  ahead  of  us,  he  came  so  "near  the  wind,"  as 
to  be  almost  "  taken  aback." 

By  the  time  we  anchored,  there  were  half  a  dozen  Malay  boats 
around  us,  bringing  vegetables,  fruit,  shells,  birds,  monkeys,  squir- 
rels, mats,  &c.,  to  sell  or  barter.  They  could  commonly  speak  only 
a  few  words  of  English,  and  talked  partly  by  signs.  Some  had 
nothing  but  a  strip  of  cloth  around  the  loins ;  others  had  calico 
trowsers ;  some  had  round  jackets,  &c.  The  darkness  of  their 
skins,  however,  prevented  their  being  so  naked  from  appearing  as 
disagreeable  as  I  had  expected.  One  old  man  came  aboard  with 
a  boat  well  filled  with  pumpkins,  yams,  &c.,  and,  coming  up  the 
side,  he  asked,  "Where  be  this  ship  from?"  "America."  "From 
'Meriky  !  and  what  you  captain's  name?"  "Lovett."  "  Oh  !  Cap- 
tain Lovett ;  I  am  glad  of  that,  where  is  he  ?"  He  ran  up  to  him 
and  held  out  his  hand.  "  Why,  Pond-jein,  is  that  you  ?  You  are 
just  the  man  I  wanted,"  said  the  captain.  It  was  the  old  Malay 
from  whom  he  usually  obtained  his  provisions.  He  soon  gave  him 
an  order  for  a  number  of  articles,  for  the  names  and  prices  of  which 
see  below. 

In  the  afternoon,  we  all  (passengers)  went  ashore.  Went  first 
to  the  governor's  house,  which  is  a  fine  large  building,  very  open 
and  airy,  and  in  full  sight  of  the  straits.  The  governor  was  ab- 
sent, but  had  a  young  Frenchman  there  as  clerk.  Here  was  a  fix; 
Captain  L.  could  not  speak  French,  and  the  clerk  could  not  speak 
English.  I  could  make  him  understand  me,  but  having  almost 
forgotten  the  sound  of  French,  and  never  having  heard  it  spoken, 
I  could  hardly  make  out  what  he  said.  However,  we  managed 
to  get  our  business  accomplished.  He  was  very  polite,  had  tea  for 
the  ladies,  and  seemed  desirous  of  accommodating  us.  Handed  us 
into  the  sitting-room,  which  was  open,  cool  and  pleasant.  As  we 
were  going  in  we  met  the  captain  of  an  English  ship  just  from 
China,  who  had  just  anchored,  and  who  gave  us  a  good  deal  of 
information  respecting  China,  Hong  Kong,  &c.,  and,  greatly  to 
Mrs.  G.'s  delight,  gave  her  some  information  about  her  husband, 
whom  he  knew  by  sight,  though  not  acquainted  with  him. 

Walked  out  with  my  umbrella ;  saw  some  men  catching  fish 
with  a  long  net,  but  they  caught  only  about  two  gallons  full  of  them, 
and  all  very  small,  none,  I  suppose,  more  than  an  inch  and  a  half 
long,  shaped  mostly  like  sun  fish,  and  colored  like  silver  fish  ;  I 
should  suppose  that  they  are  very  delicate  eating.  There  were  a 
large  number  of  children  playing  on  the  beach,  either  entirely  or 
nearly  naked,  and  all  bareheaded  and  barefooted ;  their  greatest 
amusement  seemed  to  consist  in  pursuing  and  catching  a  small 
crab,  that  ran  with  exceeding  swiftness  and  burrowed  in  holes  in 
the  sand.  I  was  surprised  to  see  how  very  quick  it  could  run — 
much  faster  than  they  could.  When  they  had  chased  one  to  its 


120  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE* 

hole,  they  would  sit  down  and  try  to  dig  it  out,  if  the  hole  was  not 
too  deep.  I  began  to  pick  up  some  small  shells  on  the  beach,  and 
among  the  stones  at  the  water's  edge,  and  half  a  dozen  of  them 
gathered  round  me,  and  began  talking,  and  asking  me  questions. 
Some  of  them  were  quite  good  looking,  and  had  very  beautiful 
teeth  ;  but  they  will  soon  spoil  them  by  chewing  betel  nut,  as  all 
the  grown-up  people,  men  and  women,  do  here,  at  least  among 
the  Malays  ;  I  did  not  observe  whether  the  Chinese  use  it  or  not. 
I  did  not  understand  a  word  they  said  ;  but  they  were  evidently 
in  great  spirits,  and  very  good  natured ;  so  I  talked  away  to  them, 
asking  questions,  and  making  remarks,  and  laughing  and  talking 
with  as  great  glee  as  any  of  them.  They  helped  me  to  pick  shells, 
crying  out  "Gubboosh  !"  "Yes!"  "  Karang  !"  &c.  1  felt  almost 
sorry  to  part  with  them,  arid  having  nothing  else  to  give  them  as 
a  reward  for  their  services,  I  took  out  my  pin-cushion,  and  gave 
them  a  pin  a  piece.  They  were  quite  eager  to  get  them,  and 
stood  round  me  in  a  half-circle,  holding  up  their  little  hands  and 
chattering  away.  They  waited  very  patiently,  each  till  his  own 
turn  came,  and  followed  me  some  little  distance  afterwards,  till  I 
turned  and  waved  my  hand — and  then  off  they  went. 

I  then  rejoined  our  company  and  we  took  a  long  walk,  through 
a  large  grove  of  cocoa-nut  trees,  then  to  Pond-jein's  house.  It 
is  one  story  high,  of  bamboo,  and  has  a  good  many  apart- 
ments. He  showed  us  his  bed-room,  where  there  was  a  bed  wide 
enough  for  the  whole  family,  neatly  ornamented  with  tinsel,  &c. ; 
gave  us  refreshments  of  tolerably  good  Java  coffee,  with  sugar, 
but  no  milk,  fresh  cocoa-nut  milk,  plantains,  guavas,  sweetmeats, 
&c.  Thence  we  went  to  the  reservoir  from  which  water  is  ob- 
tained for  the  ships,  and  just  back  of  which  is  a  monument  to 
Lord  Cathcart,  who  died  here  in  1787.  Everything  was  novel — 
trees,  flowers,  people,  and  all. 

The  place  has  a  good  many  inhabitants,  but  I  had  no  means 
of  learning  how  many.  Pond-jein  said,  in  answer  to  my  in- 
quiries, "  Oh,  plenty  people  here."  Saw  a  woman  weaving,  and 
quite  a  crowd  of  children  followed  us  as  we  went  around. 

We  met  a  poor  leprous  girl,  as  we  went  along  ;  the  palm  of 
her  hand  was  quite  white,  her  feet  were  wrapped  up  in  cloths, 
and  she  seemed  to  walk  with  difficulty.  Her  body  was  much 
wasted  away,  and  her  face  expressed  a  good  deal  of  pain. 
Coming  back  to  the  village,  a  Chinese  came  out  of  a  house  and 
spoke  to  Mr.  K.  by  name.  He  had  known  him  in  Canton  ;  and 
having  by  some  means  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  higher 
powers  there,  he  had  fled  here  for  safety.  Going  on  further,  we 
came  to  a  China-man's  shop,  and  looking  in,  the  first  thing  I  saw  was 
a  wooden  clock,  and  the  portrait  of  Martin  Van  Buren  on  its  face  ! 
Attracted  by  such  an  unexpected  sight,  in  these  ends  of  the  world, 
we  went  in.  The  China-man  was  very  polite.  Eager  to  sell, 
very  complaisant,  in  fact,  a  con.plete  man  of  the  world,  smooth 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  121 

and  oily-tongued.  He  had  a  very  miscellaneous  collection,  though 
not  large,  and  asked  us  what  we  would  have ;  said  he  had  some 
very  fine  Holland  gin,  and  seemed  surprised  that  we  did  not  fancy 
it.  He  had  Jews'  harps,  lead  pencils,  jack-knives,  brass  tacks, 
calicoes,  shoes  from  Lowell,  several  wooden  clocks,  got  them  from 
a  whaler,  and  sold  them  for  ten  dollars  a-piece,  which  I  think  was 
quite  reasonable — if  (hey  were  worth  anything  at  all. 

Going  out  of  his  shop,  I  saw  a  red  piece  of  paper  with  Chinese 
characters,  pasted  against  one  of  the  posts,  and  a  little  piece  of 
bamboo  underneath,  with  several  half  burnt  Jo.sh-sticks  in  it.  I 
asked  him  what  that  was?  "Oh,  that  is  the  great  Josh;  we 
burn  them  twice  a  month,  all  the  same  as  they  do  in  America." 
I  told  him  we  did  not  do  so  in  America,  at  which  he  was  greatly 
surprised. 

Then  we  came  back  to  the  ship  about  seven  P.  M.,  and  in  the 
evening  talked  over  all  we  had  seen,  and  sat  up  to  finish  our  let- 
ters for  home. 

Friday  morning.  The  captain  said  he  would  go  ashore  for  the 
last  time,  and  be  off  as  soon  as  possible;  so  we  gentlemen  got 
ready  and  went  ashore,  but  it  was  very  warm,  and  I  did  not  care 
about  walking  much.  Our  party  went  to  visit  the  fort.  I  took 
a  short  stroll  on  the  beach,  but  soon  came  back  and  sat  down  at 
the  landing  place,  under  the  shade  of  a  noble  banian  tree,  where 
there  was -a  delightful  breeze  from  the  water.  There  was  a  lad- 
der reaching  up  nearly  to  the  top  of  the  tree,  which  I  climbed; 
and  found  a  little  hut  away  up  in  the  heart  of  the  tree,  and  a 
Malay  stationed  there  to  make  signals  for  ships  in  the  straits. 
Quite  a  crowd  of  Malays  were  standing  and  sitting  round  the 
tree,  chewing  betel,  and  chattering  a\vay,  but  doing  nothing  in 
the  world.  They  seem  like  a  very  do-nothing  sort  of  a  people  ; 
are  not  nearly  so  thrifty  nor  neat  in  their  persons,  dress,  houses, 
<fec.,  as  the  Chinese  who  live  among  them.  We  saw  a  number 
of  Chinese  houses  in  the  place,  though  I  could  not  say  what  pro- 
portion. 

On  the  whole  the  romance  of  yesterday's  visit  wore  off  very 
much  to-day,  and  I  was  quite  glad  to  leave  them,  and  depart.  The 
pkiceis  said  to  be  unhealthy,  from  the  marshes  just  back  of  the 
village.  The  Malays  are  Mohammedans.  1  observed  that  those 
who  came  on  board  would  not  eat  meat,  for  fear  it  should  be  pork, 
though  they  were  very  glad  to  get  ship's  bread.  They  appeal- 
principally  to  live  on  fowls  and  vegetables.  I  saw  a  few  buffaloes, 
which  seemed  very  fond  of  being  in  the  water,  and  also  some 
dogs  that  looked  a  little  like  small  greyhounds,  some  goats,  and 
a  few  rather  long  narrow-eared  sheep,  which  had  thrown  off  their 
woollen  coats  and  wore  hair,  the  climate  being  too  warm  for 
woollen  stuffs. 

We  had  the  anchor  up  about  two  o'clock,  and  drifted  on  our 
course  with  the  tide  ;  but  the  wind  being  light,  made  slow  progress. 


122 


MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 


Here  is  Pond-jein's  bill,  which  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  you, 
both  for  the  articles  and  the  groceries : 


$18.75 
1.00 
3.00 
2.00 
15.00 
8.00 
2.00 
8.00 
8.00 
3.00 
4.00 
6.50 
1.00 


15  piculs*  of  yams  at  $1.25 

1  picul  of  sweet  potatoes  at  $1 

12  buncliesf  plantains 

100  cocoa-nuts  green,  25  do.  hard 

200  bundles  paddy,  (rice  in  the  hull) 

200       "        grassj 

200  eggs     . 

8  dozen  chickens 

4     "     ducks 

1      "     capons 

100  pumpkins^ 

10  turtles 

4  bundles  onions 


The  turtles  would  bring  ten  times  that  price  in  New  York. 

Sabbath  morning,  May  1st.  When  I  went  out  before  breakfast, 
we  were  away  out  in  the  Java  Sea,  and  the  only  land  in  sight  was 
the  high  peaks  of  Rajah  Bassa,  which  must  have  been  seventy 
miles  off.  During  the  day,  saw  a  ship  to  the  eastward  that  looked 
very  much  like  the  Oneida.  A  pleasant  breeze  all  day,  and  toler- 
ably good  progress ;  out  of  sight  of  land  all  day.  Sea  about  thir- 
teen fathoms  deep;  it  varies  from  eight  to  thirty  fathoms,  all  the 
way  from  Java  to  the  island  of  Banou ;  is  generally  about  eleven 
to  fifteen  fathoms. 

Preached  on  Luke  xxiii.  33 ;  "  There  they  crucified  him." 
On  the  death  of  Jesus  Christ.  Was  favored  with  great  fluency 
and  good  attention.  In  the  afternoon,  one  of  the  men  came  and 
asked  me  to  lend  him  a  Greek  Testament.  He  said  he  could  read 
it.  I  was  just  preparing  for  my  Bible  class,  and  could  not  talk  with 
him  abo'-it  it  then.  I  got  it  for  him,  and  he  took  it  off  to  the  fore- 
castle, and  seemed  to  be  reading  it  very  busily  for  some  time.  In 
a  day  or  two  afterwards,  he  came  back  with  a  translation  he  had 
made  from  the  Greek  to  Latin,  of  Matt.  ii.  1-12,  which  was  very 
well  done.  He  had  been  at  some  German  schools  and  universi- 
ties, and  understands  more  languages  than  any  one  on  board ; 
Greek,  Latin,  English,  French,  Danish,  German  ;  yet  he  is  not 
more  than  twenty-two  years  old. 

We  had  quite  a  squall  during  the  night;  thunder  and  lightning, 
and  a  strong  breeze.  Lightning  is  seen  off  the  coast  of  Sumatra 
very  frequently. 

Monday,  May  2d.  Land  in  sight  about  seven,  A.  M.,  a  peak  in 
the  isle  of  Banca.  During  the  day  we  drew  up  to.  and  about 
noon  or  a  little  after  entered,  the  Macclesfield  passage  of  Gaspar 

*  A  Picul  is  133}  pounds. 

t  About  100  plantains  in  each  bunch,  which  would  sell  for  one  or  two  shillings  a 
piece  at  New  York. 

The  bundles  of  hay  weighed  perhaps  three  pounds  each. 

The  pumpkins  are  small,  but  very  good  and  sweet. 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  123 

Straits,  which  lead  from  the  Java  to  the  Chinese  sea.  There  are 
a  great  many  shoals  and  rocks  in  these  straits,  and  we  found  it 
necessary  to  watch  very  closely  in  passing  them.  However,  we 
had  a  fair,  though  light  wind,  smooth  sea,  and  clear  weather ;  and 
about  four,  p.  M.,  were  off  the  northern  part  of  Pulo  Leat,  and  not 
more  than  two  miles  from  it,  so  that  we  could  distinctly  see  the 
shore,  rocks  and  trees.  About  six,  p.  M.,  a  pleasant  little  breeze 
blew  us  a  most  pleasant  scent,  from  Pulo  Lepa,  and  Pulo  Leat. 
The  shores,  however,  of  these  islands,  could  not  be  compared  with 
the  scenery  of  Java  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda. 

Tuesday,  May  3d.  When  I  went  out  this  morning,  Gaspar 
Island  was  away  astern  of  us  ;  it  was  the  only  land  in  sight.  We 
soon  lost  sight  of  that,  and  were  out  in  the  open  China  Sea. 

Friday,  May  6th.  Wednesday  was  a  hot  day.  Thermometer, 
89°  in  the  shade  in  the  upper  cabin,  and  about  87°  in  the  lower. 
How  the  cook  stands  his  occupation,  I  cannot  conceive.  The  ther- 
mometer rose  to  135°,  in  fifteen  minutes  after  I  put  it  in  the  gal- 
ley !  Thursday  it  was  raining  nearly  all  day,  much  to  the  embar- 
rassment of  the  officers  ;  for  by  calculation  we  crossed  the  equator 
about  noon,  and  there  were  several  islands  and  shoals  near  our 
course;  but  the  weather  was  so  thick,  that  scarcely  anything 
could  be  seen  more  than  a  mile  or  two  off. 

Saturday,  May  7th.  Fair  weather  when  I  went  out  this  morn- 
ing. West  Island  bore  east  of  us  about  ten  miles  off.  while  away 
ahead,  one  or  two  of  the  higher  peaks  of  the  Great  Natuna  Group 
were  just  visible,  though  they  must  have  been  more  than  seventy 
miles  off.  We  are  now  (five,  p.  M.,)  just  abreast,  of  the  most 
southern  of  them,  and  shall  probably  pass  them  all  during  the 
night.  They  are  quite  mountainous,  though  we  are  passing  at 
such  a  distance  as  to  be  able  to  see  but  little.  The  Oneida  beats 
us  in  light  winds,  but  loses  when  we  have  anything  of  a  breeze. 
You  would  be  greatly  amused  to  hear  the  officers  and  passengers 
talking  about  her.  We  iiave  seen  her  now  every  day  for  a  week, 
sometimes  astern,  sometimes  ahead,  sometimes  abeam,  or  along- 
side, some  distance  off.  She  makes  more  efforts  to  get  on  than 
we ;  can  spread  one  or  two  more  sails,  and  has  been  seen  several 
times  welting  her  sails. 

Monday,  May  9th.  Preached  on  John  xvi.  7,  to  an  attentive 
audience,  though  they  were  not  so  much  interested,  apparently, 
as  they  were  for  two  or  three  late  days.  It  is  hard  at  times  to 
repress  unbelieving  fears,  or  to  avoid  giving  way  to  the  suggestions 
of  the  enemy,  that  "  it  is  of  no  use  to  preach  to  such  people." 
Truly,  it  is  like  casting  bread  upon  the  waters.  How  many  diffi- 
culties of  the  same  kind  must  I  experience  in  China  !  My  heart 
sinks  within  me  at  times,  and  then  again  I  am  encouraged.  But, 
so  far,  I  have  had  no  desire  to  go  back,  but  constantly  a  willing- 
ness to  go  forward  and  see  what  God  would  have  me  to  do.  Look- 
ing over  the  account  of  Dr.  Morrison,  in  the  Chronicle,  I  could 
hardly  tell  what  to  think.  I  cannot  plod  away  as  he  did  at  a 


124  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWR1E. 

language.  How  often  do  I  think  "it  was  a  mistake  to  send  me 
here  :  they  ought  to  have  let  me  go  to  Africa!"  Yet  when  I  think 
how  remarkably  Providence  ordered  my  course  in  this  matter,  I 
am  constrained  to  lay  my  hand  on  my  mouth,  and  wait  to  see 
Avhat  God  is  doing.  One  thing  often  occurs  to  me  :  I  thought  I 
was  peculiarly  qualified  to  be  a  missionary  to  Africa  ;  I  do  not 
think  I  am  for  China.  If  I  had  gone  to  Africa,  I  should  have  de- 
pended on  my  qualifications  too  much,  and  not  on  God : — going  to 
China,  I  have  no  resources,  and  He  blesses  those  who  feel  their 
need  of  His  assistance.  u  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee  ;  for  my 
strength  is  made  perfect  in  weakness.  Most  gladly,  therefore,  will 
I  rather  glory  in  mine  infirmities,  that  the  power  of  Christ  may 
rest  upon  me."  Amen. 

Just  before  retiring  last  night  (about  ten,  p.  M.,)  I  was  walking 
on  deck.  There  was  no  moon,  but  some  stars  were  shining 
brightly  among  the  scattered  clouds.  All  at  once  a  light  as  of  the 
moon  emerging  from  clouds,  when  she  is  half  full,  lightened  up 
the  ship.  I  started,  and,  looking  out  to  the  west,  saw  a  very  large 
and  splendid  meteor,  of  a  pale  bluish  color,  shooting  down  from 
the  Sickle  in  Leo-Major.  I  could  hardly  see  its  shape,  as  it  im- 
mediately disappeared.  Three  others,  though  very  small,  soon 
followed  in  the  same  place.  Large  meteors  are  often  seen  in  this 
sea,  but  they  appear  commonly  about  midnight. 

Wednesday,  May  llth.  From  twelve  o'clock  Monday  to  twelve 
o'clock  to-day,  we  have  made  fourteen  miles  in  latitude,  and  none 
in  longitude  !  It  has  been  a  dead  calm  two-thirds  of  the  time, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  two  short  squalls,  very  light  winds  all 
the  rest,  and  in  addition,  a  strong  current  against  us.  Rather 
slow  going.  Yesterday  the  ship  would  not  steer,  there  being  no 
wind,  but  turned  round,  head  to  the  south,  and  she  could  not  be 
got  round  again.  However,  we  are  doing  rather  better  to-day ; 
in  fact,  yesterday  we  lost  a  mile  on  the  whole,  so  that  to-day  we 
have  made  it  fifteen. 

An  immense  number  of  small  round  animals  were  seen  floating 
and  swimming  on  and  near  the  surface  of  the  water  in  the  after- 
noon. There  must  have  been  millions  of  them.  We  causrht  half 
a  dozen  of  them,  and  found  them  to  be  of  a  jelly-like  suostance, 
in  the  shape  of  a  bucket,  or  short  thimble.  They  were  of  a  brown 
color,  and  had  in  the  centre  of  the  cavity  an  organization  very 
much  like  the  stamens  and  pistils  of  flowers.  They  looked  very 
much  like  the  central  part  of  the  passion-flower ;  smelt  like  oys- 
ters, and  moved  by  alternately  contracting  and  enlarging  the 
upper  rim  of  their  bodies  ;  out  of  the  water  they  appeared  like  a 
mere  lump  of  jelly.  I'll  try  to  preserve  one  or  two  of  them  for 
you,  but  fear  I  cannot  do  it.  They  are  e\  idently  alive,  and  some 
of  them  are  quite  lively. 

We  hope  to  be  at  the  end  of  our  voyage  in  two  weeks,  and  you 
will  perhaps  think  I  must  be  very  glad  of  it.  I  can  hardly  say, 
however,  that  I  am.  For  a  few  days  aftei  leaving  Angier  I  did 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  125 

wish  pretty  heartily  that  we  were  safely  moored  ;  but  now  I  feel 
almost  sorry  to  think  of  ending  the  voyage  so  soon.  Having  been 
now  nearly  four  mouths  at  sea,  I  feel  quite  at  home ;  and  I  know, 
on  arriving  in  China,  I  shall  then  again  be  a  stranger,  with  re- 
sponsible duties  to  perform,  and  no  fellow-laborer  to  counsel  with 
in  regard  to  them.  My  faith  and  hopes  fluctuate  considerably  in 
regard  to  the  future.  When  1  cast  my  cares  upon  the  Lord,  I  can 
wait  with  calmness  and  peace,  knowing  that  he  will  bring  it  to 
pass  ;  but  too  often  I  suffer  my  mind  to  dwell  upon  the  future, 
without  reflecting  that  my  strength  is  all  from  on  high,  and  the 
consequence  almost  invariably  is,  that  I  am  disheartened  by  the 
prospect.  When  shall  I  learn  to  live  by  faith,  and  not  by  sight? 
I  am  sad,  and  almost  sick  at  heart,  to-night,  for  I  have  been  think- 
ing of  difficulties,  and  of  myself.  But  that  it  would  be  wrong,  I 
could  wish,  "  Oh,  that  I  had  wings  like  a  dove,  for  then  would  I 
fly  away,  and  be  at  rest." 

Monday,  May  16th.  Preached  yesterday  on  Luke  xviii.  19,  to  a 
very  attentive  audience.  I  have  rarely  seen  in  America  a  more 
attentive  and  well-behaved  congregation,  than  our  sailors  here. 
Yet  the  truths  they  hear  from  me  are  as  plain  and  evangelical, 
and  as  much  calculated  to  bring  down  one's  high  thoughts  of 
himself,  as  I  know  how  to  make  them.  I  believe  they  sometimes 
think  I  preach  hard  doctrines,  yet  they  are  very  respectful.  Yes- 
terday there  was  hardly  an  eye  turned  from  me  for  the  whole 
time,  though  I  was  not  conscious  of  being  more  than  usually  in- 
teresting or  fervent.  But,  alas  !  "  who  hath  believed  our  report, 
and  to  whom  is  the  arm  of  the  Lord  revealed  ?"  "  They  came 
before  me  as  the  Lord's  people  come ;  they  hearkened  to  my 
words,  but  their  heart  goeth  after' idols."  How  can  anyone  think 
that  almighty  power  is  not  necessary  to  change  the  hearts  of  men? 
How  can  any  one  take  credit  to  himself,  if  success  attend  his  ef- 
forts? I  lent,  my  "Holy  War"  to  the  sailmaker  the  other  day. 
He  was  greatly  pleased  with  it,  and  was  telling  me  last  night  how 
much  he  liked  it.  I  asked  him  if  he  understood  it  all.  "Oh,  yes 
sir !  it's  very  plain  ;  and  if  it  were  not,  I  could  understand  it,  by 
overhauling  my  Bible  a  little."  He  seems  to  be  a  good  man,  and 
I  am  always  sure  of  having  at  least  one  attentive  hearer  on  the 
Sabbath.  I  believe  he  never  takes  his  eyes  off  me  while  I  am 
preaching. 

Friday,  May  20th.  A  fine  breeze  for  two  days  past  has  carried 
us  on  finely,  and  if  it  holds  out,  we  shall  probably  be  at  our  "de- 
sired haven"  in  a  week.  Consequently,  all  are  in  fine  spirits,  and 
it  is  quite  amusing  to  see  how  eager  every  one  is  to  hear  the  lati- 
tude. For  my  own  part,  I  cannot  say  I  am  anxious  either  way. 
The  responsibility  of  my  station,  and  of  the  steps  I  may  take  at 
Macao,  sometimes  weighs  me  down  a  good  deal ;  and,  like  Jere- 
miah, I  say,  "  Ah,  Lord  God  !  I  cannot  speak ;  for  I  am  a  child." 
With  a  very  slight  change,  I  find  Solomon's  prayer  very  appropri- 
ate for  myself.  "  Oh  Lord  God  !  thou  hast  made  me  a  messenger 


126  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

to  a  people  like  the  dust  of  the  earth  for  multitude  ;  give  me  now 
wisdom  and  knowledge,  that  I  may  go  out  and  come  in  before  this 
people:  for  who  can  instruct  this  people  that  is  so  great?"  But 
the  promises  to  Moses,  and  Joshua,  and  Jeremiah,  and  Paul,  have 
sustained  me,  and  the  recollection  of  the  providence  of  God  in  limes 
past,  cheers  me,  and  I  am  going  forward.  A  great  work  is  before 
me,  and  its  greatness  appals  me  at  times  ;  but  the  reflection  of  the 
pendulum,  "I  have  to  tick  so  many  thousand  times,  that  I  cannot 
count  them  all,  but  then  1  have  a  moment  for  every  tick,"  encour- 
ages me  again. 

I  have  been  reading  over  my  instructions,  and  I  candidly  con- 
fess I  would  rather  take  the  responsibility  of  selecting  a  mission 
station  in  the  first  instance,  than  perform  the  part  now  assigned 
to  me.  The  facts  which  I  learned  from  the  captain  of  the  Bombay 
Castle,  make  it  very  probable  that  we  ought  to  have  a  station  at 
Hong  Kong.  If  the  question  were  simply  the  selection  of  a  sta- 
tion, that  would  not  be  so  difficult ;  but  the  question  is,  "  Shall  we 
give  up,  or  keep  one  station  already  occupied,  and  select  another?" 
and  that  is  not  so  easy.  But,  "  HE  giveth  wisdom." 

Monday,  May  23d.  Preached  yesterday  what  I  suppose  is  my 
last  sermon  on  ship-board,  from  1  Cor.  i.  23,  24,  with  as  much 
fluency  and  feeling,  and  as  good  attention  as  at  any  time  yet. 
The  seed  is  sown :  how  or  when  it  shall  spring  up,  or  what  shall 
be  the  final  results,  I  know  not.  Sometimes  I  hope  it  may  spring 
up  and  produce  much  fruit;  but  I  never  think  so,  when  I  recollect 
the  unworthiness  of  the  instrument  by  whom  it  was  dispensed. 

On  Saturday  evening,  the  sailmaker  brought  my  "  Holy  War." 
"That's  a  very  good  book,  Mr.  Lowrie;  have  you  got  any  more 
like  it?"  So  I  took  out  "  Pollok's  Tales  of  the  Covenanters," 
and  lent  it  to  him.  In  twenty-four  hours  he  had  read  all  three  of 
the  tales,  and  brought  it  back  to  me.  "  Oh,  Mr.  Lowrie,  what  a 
good  book  this  is !  That  last  story  (Ralph  Gemme.I)  makes  the 
tears  come  into  a  fellow's  eyes."  I  had  a  good  deal  of  talk  with 
him  afterwards,  and  think  that  he  gives  good  evidence  of  piety. 
He  began  to  be  serious  on  the  last  voyage,  but  says  he  thinks  a 
great  deal  more  about  religion  now  than  he  ever  did  before.  "  Oh 
how  much  pleasure  I  sometimes  find  now  in  prayer !"  He  talked 
a  great  deal  about  Bunyan's  Holy  War,  which  he  evidently  un- 
derstood very  well.  "That  Diabolus  was  a  notorious  villain. 
But  wasn't  it  sweet  when  Immanuel  caught  him  and  bound  him, 
and  then  turned  him  off?" 

W"e  shall  most  probably  go  into  China  the  day  after  to-morrow. 
Our  passengers  (Mr.  K.  excepted,  who  is  an  old  hand  at  it.)  have 
been  quite  anxious  to  get  to  China,  and  longing  for  sometime  past 
to  get  there;  but  I  believe  they  hardly  know  now  whether  they 
want  to  get  there  or  not.  It  seems  like  going  away  from  home, 
to  leave  the  little  narrow  space  where,  for  one-third  of  a  year,  we 
have  spent  our  time.  It  is  going  away  from  familiar  faces  and 
employments,  to  a  land  of  strangers  and  of  unknown  duties. 


JOURNAL    AT    SEA.  127 

Tuesday,  May  24th.  Had  our  last  Bible  class,  probably,  this 
morning.  I  have  been  writing  up  various  things  ;  among  others, 
a  preface  to  my  journal. 

Thursday,  May  26th.  Yesterday  was  a  pretty  gloomy  day. 
We  had  gone  on  so  finely  during  the  night,  that  we  expected  to 
have  been  at  Macao  by  noon.  About  six  o'clock,  however,  A.  M., 
the  wind  increased  to  a  gale  ;  had  to  double-reef  the  topsails. 
There  was  a  heavy  sea,  and  the  ship  groaned,  and  rolled,  and 
pitched  after  the  fashion  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  We  had  had 
so  much  fine  weather,  and  so  smooth  a  sea  for  six  weeks  before|> 
that  the  change  took  us  all  aback,  and  all  the  passengers  were 
quite  sea-sick.  About  eight  o'clock,  A.  M.,  yesterday,  we  saw  land 
ahead,  probably  the  great  Ladrone  Island,  a  few  miles  south  of 
Macao;  but  just  then  the  gale  came  out  dead  ahead,  and  we 
had  to  put  back  to  sea.  Two  or  three  other  ships,  that  were  nearer 
in  than  we,  had  to  do  the  same.  Wore  ship,  and  stood  in  for  land 
again  at  noon  ;  saw  it  very  distinctly  about  four,  p.  M.;  but  the 
wind  being  still  ahead,  had  to  put  off  to  sea  again,  and. soon  lost 
sight  of  it.  We  are  now  trying  again  to  go  in,  but  the  wind  is 
unfavorable.  It  may  be  several  days  yet  before  we  can  get  in, 
though  we  are  not  probably  six  hours'  fair  sailing  from  Macao. 
"  The  worst  coast,"  says  the  captain,  "  in  the  world  ;  nobody 
knows  when  we  will  get  in,  and  yet,  I  dare  say,  the  gale  does  not 
extend  fifty  miles."  1  could  not  help  thinking  how  often  we  see 
such  things  in  common  life.  Just  as  we  are  on  the  point  of  ac- 
quiring what  we  long  labor  and  hope  for,  we  are  disappointed,  and 
again  made  to  urge  on  our  rough  and  stormy  course.  What  a 
blessed  place  heaven  will  be,  where  "  there  is  no  m,ore  sea  /"  no 
more  storms  ;  no  more  wearisome  calms  ;  no  treacherous  shoals; 
no  disappointments.  It  is  the  haven  of  eternal  rest,  and  doubly 
sweet,  because  entered  "  through  much  tribulation." 


China  Sea,  May  26th,  1842. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

So  here  it  is,  the  long  promised,  and  I  flatter  myself,  the  long 
expected  journal.  Before  you  decide  that  it  is  too  long,  just  ima- 
gine yourself  in  my  situation,  with  a  charge  to  tell  yoii  all  I  do, 
and  see  and  hear,  seeing  and  hearing  a  great  many  things  new 
and  strange,  or  amusing;  and  having  hardly  any  connection  with 
home,  or  home  folks,  except  this  journal.  As  long  as  I  was  wri- 
ting it,  I  seemed  to  be  holding  intercourse  with  you ;  sometimes 
sitting  down  for  a  long  chat,  sometimes  running  in  to  tell  you  a 
little  story,  sometimes  pointing  out  a  splendid  scene  on  the  sky, 
sometimes  giving  you  a  picture  of  social  life  on  shipboard, — was  it 
any  wonder  that  my  pen  sometimes  loved  to  linger  on  the  paper, 
when  it  thus  brought  up  before  me  so  many  tender,  and  so  many 
pleasant  associations  1  and  when  it  caused  me  to  think  the  oftener 


128  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

of  one — yes,  of  many  whom,  though  I  love,  I  dare  not  expect  to 
see  any  more  on  earth  1 

If  you  find  it  badly  written  in  some  places,  you  must  consider, 
that  it  was  sometimes  so  damp,  that  my  paper  seemed  to  be  almost 
wet;  and  especially  the  ship  often  rolled  so  prodigiously,  that  in 
my  efforts  to  maintain  my  own  position,  I  had  enough  to  do  with- 
out minding  whether  I  wrote  backhand  or  slopehand,  or  whether 
the  strokes  went  perpendicularly  or  horizontally.  I  think,  if  you 
had  seen  me  sometimes,  laying  my  writing  desk  in  my  berth, 
bracing  my  foot  against  the  sides  of  my  room,  and  holding  on 
with  one  hand  to  the  berth  board,  while  I  wrote  with  the  other, 
and  after  all  getting  knocked,  now  against  the  berth,  and  now 
against  the  partition  of  my  room,  you  would  think  I  did  pretty 
well.  This  is  no  fanciful  description,  for  such  things  happened  to 
me  again  and  again,  when  off  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 

As  to  publication  of  extracts?  No.  I  set  my  foot  down  there. 
Keep  it  out  of  the  way  of  that  little  omnivorous  monster  that 
they  keep  in  the  Mission  House — [the  Missionary  Chronicle.] 
There  is  not  a  line  of  it  that  was  written  for  publication,  and  very 
few  lines  in  it  that  I  think  fit  for  publication.  They  are  mere  un- 
studied and  unlabored  accounts  of  what  happened  to  myself,  in  a 
voyage  that  contained  few  or  no  striking  incidents.  I  have  not 
that  squeamishness  about  the  publication  of  letters  and  journals 
that  some  missionaries  have ;  but  still  I  would  rather  not  appear 
in  print  for  several  years  yet.  The  less  I  am  known  for  a  while 
— at  least  until  it  is  known  whether  I  am  likely  to  be  of  any  use 
in  this  part  of  the  world — the  better.  If  I  should  prove  a  worth- 
less vessel,  a  useless  laborer,  there  will  be  fewer  disappointed  in 
me.  I  know  that  some  would  laugh  at  me  for  feeling  such  an 
anticipation,  but  with  me  it  is  no  laughing  matter.  My  coming 
to  this  part  of  the  world  is  but  an  experiment.  If  it  succeeds, 
there  will  be  time  enough  to  become  as  prominent  as  is  needful ; 
if  it  does  not,  it  will  be  better  by  far,  both  for  myself  and  the 
Church,  that  as  little  be  said  about  it,  and  as  few  expectations  dis- 
appointed as  possible. 

What  more  shall  I  say?  I  might  fill  page  after  page  with  ex- 
pressions of  attachment  and  affection.  I  might  say  how  often  I 
think  of  you  all,  and  recall  to  mind  the  many,  many  proofs  of 
love,  and  tokens  of  kindly  feelings,  I  have  received  from  you.  I 
may  say  how  much  I  would  delight  to  hear  from  you,  and  about 
all  that  concerns  you,  especially  those  things  that  relate  to  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  each  and  every  one  of  the  family,  and  of  other 
dear  friends.  But  why  should  I?  You  already  know  all  this 
nearly,  if  not  quite  as  well,  as  I  could  tell  you.  When  you  think 
of  me,  or  speak  of  me,  do  not  think  or  speak  of  me  as  if  you 
thought  I  were  unhappy,  or  repented  of  the  course  I  have  taken. 
I  may  be  sick,  I  may  be  in  outward  distress,  I  may  be,  I  often  am 
dejected  and  despondent,  but  I  never  yet  have  regretted  that  I  am 
away  from  home,  and  never  yet  felt  the  wish,  (however  much  I 


JOURNAL    AT   SEA.  129 

should  like  to  see  you  all.)  to  leave  the  path  I  am  now  treading, 
and  turn  my  back  upon  the  heathen.  What  may  be  my  feelings 
hereafter,  I  dare  not  presume  to  say.  I  may  be  "  troubled  on 
every  side;"  "perplexed,"  oftentimes;  "persecuted,"  it  may  be; 
"  cast  down,"  even.  But  I  trust  not  to  be  "  distressed,"  not  to  be 
"  forsaken,"  and  far  from  being  "  destroyed  ;"  to  come  off  at  last 
conqueror,  and  more  than  conqueror,  through  him  that  hath  loved 
me.  With  such  a  confidence,  and  with  the  hope  of  being  sustained 
by  many  influences  from  the  land  of  my  birth,  more  precious  than 
gold  and  silver,  I  may  well  rejoice ;  yea,  I  do  rejoice. 
Most  affectionately  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 
9 


CHAPTER   IV. 

1842. 

LANDING  IS  CHINA — VOYAGE  IN  THE  SEA  QUEEN — SHIPWRECK  IN  THE  HARMONY 
— RETURN  TO  MACAO. 

AT  the  period  included  in  this  chapter,  hostilities  existed  between 
Great  Britain  and  China,  and  the  result  of  the  contest,  or  even  its 
duration,  could  not  be  known.  On  reaching  China,  the  new  mis- 
sionary was  instructed  to  inquire  particularly,  in  view  of  the  state 
of  things  then  existing,  into  the  practicability  of  establishing  a 
station  at  Hong  Kong,  or  any  point  on  the  coast  further  north. 
Having  obtained  this  information,  and  joined  his  colleagues  at 
Singapore,  they  were  authorized  to  decide  the  question  of  remov- 
ing from  Singapore,  and  concentrating  the  whole  missionary  force 
in  China.  On  landing,  he  found  that  the  Rev.  T.  L.  McBryde  had 
been  at  Macao  for  some  months,  having  left  Singapore  in  hopes 
that  a  sea  voyage  would  recruit  his  health. 

Having  made  himself  acquainted  with  the  existing  state  of 
things  in  China,  Mr.  Lowrie  left  Macao  on  the  18th  of  June ;  and 
after  four  months  of  unavailing  efforts  to  reach  Singapore,  he  re- 
turned to  Hong  Kong  on  the  18th  of  October.  The  account  of 
these  distressing  voyages,  and  his  perilous  shipwreck,  is  fully  given 
in  the  following  letters  and  journals.  It  is  matter  of  regret  that 
one-half  of  his  journal  in  the  Sea  Queen  was  some  years  ago 
destroyed  by  fire,  when  the  house  of  one  of  his  relatives  was 
burned  down.  The  loss  cannot  be  supplied,  as  no  copy  of  this 
impressive  journal  was  taken. 

During  the  time  of  these  disastrous  voyages,  the  providence  of 
God  had  made  the  question  plain,  on  which  the  missionaries  were 
seeking  for  light.  The  war  between  Great  Britain  and  China  had 
been  terminated  by  a  treaty  of  peace,  with  which  the  contending 
parties  appeared  to  be  satisfied,  and  by  which  five  cities  on  the 
coast,  were  opened  to  the  commerce  and  enterprise  of  Western 
nations,  as  well  as  to  the  labor  of  the  Christian  missionary.  The 
time  had  now  fully  come  when  the  labors  of  the  church  of  God,  in 


LETTERS.  131 

behalf  of  China,  needed  no  longer  to  be  carried  on  at  a  distant 
outport. 


Macao,  May  28th,  1842. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

We  anchored  yesterday  at  four  p.  M.  in  Macao  roads.  Here  I 
found  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McBryde,  who  had  readied  China  several 
months  ago,  having  taken  the  voyage  'from  Singapore  on  account 
of  his  health.  I  was  greatly  delighted  to  find  him  here,  and  was 
much  relieved  by  having  his  counsel  and  assistance  in  deciding 
the  various  questions  before  us.  I  was  most  cordially  received  by 
the  different  missionaries  here,  and  found  a  temporary  home  with 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Bridgeman.  At  a  late  hour  I  got  to  bed,  under  mus- 
quito  curtains,  but  could  not  sleep  for  a  long  time.  It  was  so 
strange  to  be  lying  in  a  large  or  wide  bed,  to  be  in  a  large  room, 
to  feel  that  I  was  on  heathen  ground.  I  greatly  missed  the  ship's 
bells,  which  strike  every  half-hour  on  board.  The  noise  of  the 
gongs,  and  drums,  and  rattles,  and  other  strange  sounds  in  the 
town,  and  the  many,  many  thoughts  of  hundreds  of  things,  pa.^t, 
present,  and  to  come,  that  crowded  rapidly  through  my  mind, 
kept  me  long  awake.  It  is  Saturday  night  again  ; — I  am  a  stran- 
ger in  the  earth,  but  Ebenezer — Emmanuel. 

Hong  Kong,  June  7th,  1842.  I  stayed  in  Macao  from  Friday 
evening  till  Wednesday  morning,  and  saw  a  good  deal  of  the 
place.  The  population  is  about  35,000,  principally  Chinese,  with 
perhaps  5000  of  Portuguese  descent.  The  streets  are  narrow  and 
crooked  ;  very  few  are  more  than  ten  feet  wide,  and  some  not 
more  than  six.  They  are  commonly  full  of  persons  passing  along, 
hucksters  and  pedlers,  with  their  wares  and  cries  of  various  kinds, 
I  saw  a  poor  girl,  who  had  lost  both  her  feet  by  the  leprosy,  and 
was  moving  about  on  her  hands  and  knees.  Very  few  women 
are  seen  in  the  streets,  except  that  in  the  mornings  and  evenings 
a  number  of  well-dressed  Portuguese  women,  with  a  servant  be* 
hind,  holding  a  large  umbrella  over  them,  go  out  to  walk.  The 
ladies,  and  a  good  many  of  the  foreign  male  residents,  commonly 
pay  their  visits  in  sedan  chairs,  borne  by  two  Chinese.  I  used  to 
pity  some  of  the  bearers  as  they  went  panting  along  under  the 
weight  of  some  fat  fellow.  These  bearers  commonly  go  in  a  little 
short  trot,  though  it  is  very  seldom  that  you  see  a  Chinaman  run. 
The  houses  of  the  foreigners  are  commonly  large  and  roomy  ;  the 
servants  live  in  the  basement,  and  the  owners  in  the  upper  floor. 
Few  or  none  of  them  are  more  than  one  story  high.  Most  of  them 
have  one  or  more  punkahs.  I  went  out  one  morning  to  bathe,  in 
the  place  where  Mr.  Stanton  was  captured,  and  in  the  way  passed 
through  a  large  Chinese  burying  ground.  Most  of  the  graves 
were  very  carelessly  attended  to.  A  great  many  of  them  had 
pieces  of  Chinese  paper  at  the  head.  It  is  but  a  short  time  since 
the  Chinese  had  their  ceremony  of  worshipping  the  graves  of  their 


132  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

Ancestors.  It  is  their  custom  then,  to  put  such  a  piece  of  paper  on 
the  graves,  to  serve  as  money  for  their  departed  ancestors  in  the 
other  world.  I  also  visited  the  Protestant  burying'  ground,  where 
Dr.  Morrison  and  his  first  wife  are  laid.  It  is  a  small,  and  rather 
a  pretty  place,  now  nearly  full.  I  suppose,  however,  it  will  not  be 
much  used  hereafter,  as  probably  most  of  the  Protestant  foreigners 
will  remove  to  Hong  Kong. 

There  is  a  little  chapel  owned  by  the  British  in  Macao,  where 
one  of  the  missionaries  usually  preaches  every  Sabbath,  using  the 
forms  of  the  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Boone  preached  on  the  Sab- 
bath, on  "Train  up  a  child,"  &c. — He  had  first  baptized  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  Swords,  an  American  Episcopal  merchant  there. 
This,  I  believe,  was  the  first  public  baptism  ever  performed  by  an 
American  in  Macao.  The  Missionaries  usually  have  their  chil- 
dren baptized  privately.  There  were  two  punkahs  in  the  church, 
so  that,  though  the  day  was  warm,  we  were  quite  comfortable. 
There  were  probably  forty  persons  present.  The  Chinese,  how- 
ever, have  no  Sabbath,  and  were  going  about  vending  their  wares, 
and  uttering  their  cries,  as  usual.  As  for  the  Roman  Catholics 
here,  their  Sabbath  is  over  after  mass,  which  is  performed  early  in 
the  morning.  In  the  evening  I  preached  to  an  audience  of  some 
twenty  or  thirty,  at  Mr.  Brown's  house, — on  Psalm  cxix.  19.  As 
Mr.  McBryde  was  to  leave  Macao  for  Amoy  on  Wednesday,  June 
1st,  together  with  Mr.  Boone  and  Dr.  dimming,  we  had  a  mis- 
sionary meeting  at  Mr.  Brown's  on  Tuesday  night.  The  vessel 
in  which  they  were  to  go  to  Amoy,  was  lying  at  Hong  Kong,  and 
I  accompanied  them  to  this  place. 

Having  a  head  wind  the  whole  time,  we  had  to  beat  all  the 
way,  and  were  twenty-nine  hours  coming  forty-five  miles,  the  dis- 
tance from  Macao  to  Hong  Kong.  I  suppose  in  our  beating  about, 
we  went  at  least  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  The  crew  were  a 
jolly  set,  and  very  kind,  but  we  could  hold  almost  no  intercourse 
with  them,  as  they  were  of  the  province  of  Canton,  and  Mr. 
Boone  spoke  only  Hokien.  There  was  not  much  to  interest  one 
on  the  route.  Our  course  lay  among  a  multitude  of  islands  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Canton  river.  These  are  high,  rocky  and  bare  ; 
scarcely  any  trees  or  bushes ;  and  the  little  grass  there  is  being 
very  much  withered.  We  saw  a  few  fishing  boats,  and  one  or 
two  small  villages.  Occasionally  a  little  fisherman's  hut  was 
seen  perched  among  the  rocks.  At  night  I  spread  one  of  my 
Angier-mats  on  the  floor  and  laid  my  cloak  over  it  and  slept  there. 
I  pitied  the  rest  of  our  passengers  a  good  deal.  Mr.  B.  and  Mr. 
McB.  were  neither  of  them  well ;  their  wives  were  even  more, 
weakly,  and  in  addition  were  sea-sick ;  their  children  were  un- 
easy and  fretful,  and  two  ayahs  or  female  servants,  whom  they 
had  engaged  .to  go  with  them  to  Amoy,  were  so  sea-sick  they 
could  not  hold  up  their  heads.  There  they  were,  among  tables 
and  boxes,  and  chairs,  and  plates,  with  scarcely  room  to  stir,  sick, 
going  to  a  strange  country  and  far  away  from  the  comforts  of 


LETTERS.  133 

home  and  friends.  I  assure  you  I  began  to  think  more  seriously 
than  before  of  the  personal  trials  and  discomforts  of  missionary 
life.  Yet  there  was  not  a  murmur  uttered,  nor  as  far  as  I  could 
see,  an  emotion  of  impatience  or  regret  felt.  We  arrived  at 
Hong  Kong  harbor  about  three  P.  M.,  on  Thursday. 

After  some  searching  we  found  their  ship  and  put  our  voyagers 
on  board,  with  their  baggage.  She  is  but  a  small  vessel,  with  but 
poor  accommodations  in  respect  to  room.  I  went  ashore  and  was 

most  kindly  welcomed  and  entertained  by  Mr.  G ,  where  1 

have  been  staying  since  my  arrival.  On  Saturday  morning  I 

tried  to  go  up  one  of  the  hills  back  of  Mr.  G 's  house — I 

assure  you  it  was  up  hill  work,  and  I  had  hard  tugging  to  get 
myself  up.  It  was  so  steep,  I  concluded  to  go  no  further,  and  sat 
down  to  rest  on  a  rock  before  descending.  My  toil  in  ascending 
the  hill,  naturally  reminded  me  of  the  circumstances  of  the  mis- 
sion, which  we  were  endeavoring  to  establish  here,  and  of  the 
work  that  is  yet  before  us.  The  difficulties  are  great — high  as 
the  mountains,  and  apparently  as  hard  to  be  removed  as  the 
granite  upon  them;  and  after  all,  what  is  it  to  the  eye  of  man 
but  a  barren  prospect,  like  the  bare  side  of  the  hill  I  had  been 
climbing?  And  yet,  as  I  ascended  I  had  seen  little  plants  and 
flowers,  and  insects,  and  shells,  and  recognized  in  all  of  them 
traces  of  the  presence  and  power  of  God ;  and  as  I  looked  around 
I  saw  that  some  Chinese  women  had  ascended  the  hills  to  gather 
firewood  to  sustain  their  earthly  lives,  and  that  civilized  men 
were  toiling  at  great  expense  to  found  a  city  here,  where  appa- 
rently, there  was  so  little  prospect  of  one  being  founded.  If  they 
spare  no  expense  for  a  mere  earthly  object,  why  should  Christians 
spare  their  money  or  labor  in  endeavoring  here  to  build  the  temple 
of  the  Lord?  There  are  great  difficulties  in  the  way,  but  when  I 
looked  round,  and  saw  these  vast  hills  piled  up  on  all  sides,  and 
covered  over  with  the  immense  blocks  of  granite  as  if  in  sport, 
just  as  a  child  heaps  up  little  sand  hills  in  its  play,  and  disposes 
its  pebbles  and  its  shells  on  their  sides  and  their  tops,  I  could 
not  but  exclaim,  the  God  who  formed  these  hills,  and  placed  these 
rocks  upon  them,  is  all-powerful ;  and  though  they  seem  im- 
movably fixed,  yet  even  men,  by  slow  and  patient  labor,  may  take 
them  away  ;  and  he  himself,  by  means  that  he  can  well  employ, 
can  remove  them  at  once.  The  difficulties  of  our  mission,  God 
could  remove  at  once  ;  but  if  he  chooses  to  employ  us  in  this  work, 
the  probability  is,  that  for  the  present  we  shall  proceed  by  slow, 
and  perhaps  for  a  time,  almost  imperceptible  steps.  But  the  work 
shall  be  done,  for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it.  The 
granite  rocks  around  were  a  little  sanctuary  for  me,  and  I  did 
not  regret  my  toil  in  climbing  up  the  hill. 

The  Sabbath-day  to  me  was  a  very  pleasant  day,  though  I  saw 
many  things  to  pain  me.  I  could  not  but  feel  that  I  was  in  a 
worse  than  a  heathen  country.  It  is  a  heathen  land  under  the 
control  of  Christians,  where  the  heathen  are  allowed,  and  even 


134  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

required  by  the  Christians,  to  work  for  them  on  the  Sabbath-day. 
How  can  the  missionaries  urge  on  the  natives  to  keep  holy  the 
Sabbath-day,  when  the  merchants  and  the  Government  send  them 
to  count  money,  store  away  goods,  open  roads,  hew  granite,  and 
build  houses,  on  that  day  ?  And  when  the  Roman  Catholic 
priests,  who  are  now  exerting  the  greatest,  influence  on  the  natives 
of  any  of  the  foreigners,  consider  that  the  Sabbath  is  over  as  soon 
a  mass  is  said  ?  The  merchants  go  to  their  counting-rooms  as 
usual,  and  the  Sabbath  is  emphatically  the  day  for  visiting. — • 
"  Woe  is  me,  that  I  dwell  in  Mesech,  and  sojourn  in  the  tents  of 
Kedar  !"  My  heart  is  sick  at  the  sight  of  the  wickedness  around. 
O  Lord,  show  thyself.  I  felt  almost  afraid  to  establish  a  mission 
here,  for  how  can  a  city  prosper  whose  foundations  are  laid  in  the 
desecration  of  the  Sabbath-day.  "Sin  is  a  reproach  to  any  peo- 
ple," and  how  much  more  to  England  and  America  ! 

In  the  evening  I  preached  in  a  little  mat-house  to  a  company 
of  some  fifteen  or  twenty  persons,  mostly  pious  soldiers,  on  Luke 
xi.  31.  Mr.  Shuck  has  had  a  service  among  them  for  some  time 
past.  Mr.  Morrison  was  there.  The  attention  was  very  good 
indeed. 

Wednesday,  June  8th.  I  am  beginning  to  wish  to  be  at  my 
regular  missionary  employments,  but  the  prospect  at  present  is 
rather  poor ;  several  months'  voyaging  and  exploring,  and  then 
two  or  three  years'  studying  of  the  Mandarin  dialect,  and  then  as 
many  more  at  one  of  the  local  dialects, — what  shall  happen  before 
all  that  time  is  passed  ? 

Friday,  June  10th.  Left  Hong  Kong  with  Mr.  Shuck  yesterday 
at  t-vo,  p.  M.,  in  a  Chinese  "Fast  Boat,"  or  passage  boat.  It  was 
pe.  s  of  seventy  tons'  measurement,  had  a  large  cabin,  and  two 
sman  rooms ;  the  latter  were  assigned  to  Mr.  Shuck  and  myself, 
as  our  Chinese  fellow-passengers,  about  twenty  in  number,  occu- 
pied the  cabin.  It  was  a  very  comfortable  boat,  but  had  neither 
berth  nor  seat.  I  spread  my  mat  on  the  floor,  and  lay  there.  Mr. 
Shuck  and  I  took  our  dinner,  or  tea,  on  the  top  of  the  cabin  ;  we 
sat  down  on  the  roof,  took  our  bread  and  meat  on  pieces  of  a 
newspaper,  for  want  of  plates  ;  and  though  we  had  knives  and 
forks,  I  found  fingers  more  convenient  than  the  latter.  The  Chi- 
nese made  tea  for  us,  and  I  relished  my  meal  very  well. 

We  had  a  fair  wind  most  of  the  way,  and  got  to  Macao  by 
daylight.  _ 

This  is  a  very  unsettled  kind  of  life.  I  am  "living  by  the  day," 
for  I  know  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth. 

Very  affectionately  yours,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  June  llth,  1842. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

....  In  regard  to  the  station  at  Singapore,  we  are  all  of  opinion 
that  it  must  be  given  up,  as  soon  as  we  can  obtain  a  station  in  or 


LETTERS.  135 

near  China.  It  is  too  far  from  China.  One  half  of  the  year  it  is 
a  long  and  tedious  voyage  from  China  there  ;  the  other  half,  it  is 
just  the  same  from  Singapore  here.  It  will  probably  take  me 
from  four  to  six  weeks  to  get  to  Singapore.  The  weather  in  the 
China  Sea  is  almost  always  oppressively  warm,  particularly  so  at 
this  season,  and  I  shall  run  a  good  deal  of  risk  of  meeting  a  tyfoon 
before  I  arrive ;  then  the  price  of  passage  in  the  unfavorable  mon- 
soon is  enormous.  Here,  then,  are  time  and  expense,  and,  at  cer- 
tain seasons,  danger,  in  making  this  voyage.  Neither  is  Singapore 
in  itself  a  very  advantageous  place  for  a  mission  station.  It  ig 
unhealthy  for  most  persons  ;  very  few  can  endure  the  constant 
heat,  when  there  is  no  bracing  winter.  The  character  of  the 
people  is  also  lower  there  than  in  many  other  places.  The  greater 
part  of  them  are  mere  adventurers  ;  many  of  them  have  been  pi- 
rates ;  a  very  large  proportion  are  unmarried  men,  while  there  are 
comparatively  few  women  and  children.  This  in  itself,  of  course, 
is  not  a  reason  why  they  should  receive  no  attention;  but  it  is  a 
reason  why  we  should  not  turn  our  attention  to  places  where  there 
is  no  prospect  either  of  immediate  or  enduring  success  and  use- 
fulness, when  we  have  not  the  men  and  means  to  occupy  everj 
place  where  it  is  desirable  to  have  a  station. 

As  to  saying  that  our  labor  there  would  be  lost  if  we  gave  up 
the  place,  I  think  that  is  an  entire  mistake;  and  further,  that  it 
contains  a  most  mischievous  principle.  No  good  action  once  per- 
formed, is  ever  lost.  God  knows  its  value.  He  knows  best  what 
use  to  make  of  it.  He  is  best  able  to  turn  it  to  good  account.  In 
so  doing,  he  may  work  in  ways  we  think  not  of.  To  our  view, 
he  may  make  entirely  null  and  void  all  that  we  have  done,  and 
where  we  looked  for  a  fruitful  harvest,  there  may  be  de*  .ion. 
We  may  seem  to  have  lost  all  our  labor,  and  spent  our  sabngth 
for  nought.  But  it  is  not  so  ;  we  have  looked  for  the  fruit  in  the 
wrong  place.  We  may  say  of  our  work,  as  the  patriarch  Job  said 
of  himself,  "  Its  witness  is  in  heaven,  and  its  record  is  on  high." 
He  who  counts  even  the  tears  of  his  saints,  and  numbers  all  their 
sighs,  will  not  forget  the  expense,  and  the  labor,  and  the  sufferings 
we  have  endured,  the  prayers  our  missionaries  have  offered,  and 
the  tears  they  have  shed  at  Singapore.  They  may  not  see  the 
fruit,  but  he  gees  it ;  and  is  not  this  enough?  We  work  to  please 
him,  not  to  appear  well  in  the  eyes  of  men.  It  is  a  very  common 
remark,  yet  seldom  fully  appreciated,  that  the  last  day  will  dis- 
close the  worBfe  of  our  hands.  Perhaps  we  shall  then  see,  that 
what  we  counted  our  most  splendid  services,  those  which  made 
the  most  show  and  noise,  and  promised  fairest  for  usefulness,  were 
really  of  least  value  ;  while  others,  over  which  we  had  mourned 
as  seed  thrown  away,  shall  then  be  seen  to  have  grown  up  and 
produced  fruit  and  abundant  harvest  unto  eternal  life.  At  the  time 
our  China  mission  was  commenced,  Singapore  seemed  to  be  the 
most  promising  station,  and  probably  we  did  right  to  select  that 
place.  Now  the  Lord  in  his  providence  seems  to  be  opening  the 


136  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

way  for  a  much  nearer  approach  to  China,  and  -we  shall  do  wrong 
if  we  do  not  diligently  attend  to  these  intimations  of  his  wilL 
While  we  ask,  "Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  us  to  do?"  we  must 
also  be  ready  to  go  where  he  points  us ;  and  though  we  may 
hardly  know  what  he  would  have  us  to  do,  yet  "  there  it  shall  be 
told  us  what  we  must  do." 

The  Roman  Catholics  have  almost  complete  possession  of  Ma- 
cao. They  have  a  large  number  of  churches,  schools  and  pricsta 
here  ;  and  frequently  have  processions  through  the  streets  in  honor 
of  their  different  saints.  They  had  one  on  St.  Anthony's  day,  a 
short  time  after  my  arrival,  when  they  carried  round  an  image  of 
the  saint,  gaudily  decorated  with  flowers  and  tinsel,  beating  drums 
and  singing  anthems.  It  is  hard  to  see  wherein  their  religion  is 
different  from  that  of  the  Chinese,  at  least  so  far  as  the  sanctification 
of  the  Sabbath,  and  purity  of  morals,  are  concerned.  They  shut 
up  the  kingdom  of  heaven  themselves,  and  they  will  not  suffer 
others  to  show  the  way  thither.  They  prohibit  Protestants  from 
carrying  on  any  direct  missionary  labors,  though  the  prohibition 
is  not  so  strictly  enforced  as  it  might  be,  and  as  I  had  supposed  it 
was.  By  prudence  and  proper  care  a  missionary  may  distribute 
tracts,  go  out  into  the  villages,  and  talk  to  the  people,  even  gather 
a  few  of  them  in  his  house,  and  preach  to  them  ;  and  he  may  have 
a  small  school,  which  he  may  direct  and  instruct  as  he  pleases. 
Still,  missionaries  are  under  restraint,  and  they  feel  it ;  and  all  of 
those  who  are  here  intend  removing  to  Hong  Kong  or  elsewhere, 
as  soon  as  they  can  make  it  suit.  For  a  permanent  mission  sta- 
tion, this  is  not  the  place.  It  might,  perhaps,  be  expedient  for  us 
to  have  our  missionaries  here  for  a  year  or  two,  until  we  can  make 
more  permanent  arrangements. 

The  first  appearance  of  Hong  Kong  was  very  unpromising. 
Though  rather  greener  than  any  other  of  the  islands  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Canton  river,  it  still  partakes  of  the  same  general  charac- 
teristics with  them, — exceedingly  hilly,  with  the  hills  barren,  bare, 
high  and  steep,  coming  down  to  the  water's  edge,  and  very  small 
and  rough  valleys  between  them.  The  few  openings  I  saw  among 
the  hills  seemed  only  to  disclose  a  still  more  rough  and  broken 
country.  It  is  almost  the  last  place  in  the  world,  where  I  should 
have  thought  of  founding  a  great  city.  It  is  hardly  possible  to  find 
a  site  for  a  house,  without  digging  down  the  tops  or  sides  of  the 
hills,  and  levelling  them  off.  It  cannot  raise  provisions  enough  to 
support  a  large  population.  It  must  be  in  great  measure  depend- 
ent on  the  main  land,  and  on  other  countries.  However,  after 
spending  several  days  there,  and  seeing  more  of  its  advantages, 
my  impressions  respecting  it  became  decidedly  more  favorable.  It 
has  a  noble  and  very  safe  harbor ;  promises  to  be  very  healthy, 
though  very  damp  in  April,  May  and  June ;  and  has  now  every 
prospect  of  filling  up  rapidly,  both  with  foreigners  and  Chinese. 

The  greater  part  of  the  Chinese  on  the  island  are  merely  labor- 
ers. I  saw  but  few  women  and  children :  families  are,  however, 


LETTERS.  13? 

coming  over,  and  in  a  few  years  I  think  there  will  be  a  wide  field 
for  common  schools.  The  population  is  now  between  15.000  and 
20,000,  one-half  of  whom  live  in  the  cily  of  Hong  Kong.  The 
greater  part  of  those  now  on  the  island  have  come  over  within  the 
last  twelve  months.  They  are  the  most  unpatriotic  set  I  ever 
heard  off  and  make  no  scruple  of  selling  their  services  to  the  na- 
tion that  is  fighting  against  their  country.  In  the  attack  of  the 
British  on  Canton,  I  hey  found  no  difficulty  in  hiring  Chinese  to 
haul  up  their  guns  to  the  batteries. 

A  number  of  different  dialects  are  spoken  on  the  island  ;  the 
Canton,  however,  i,s  principally  used.  The  main  land  is  but  half 
a  mile  off;  several  villages  are  on  the  shore  just  opposite  the  island. 
The  country  between  the  Kowloon  mountains  and  Canton  is  said 
to  he  very  fertile  and  populous. 

The  Roman  Catholics  have  the  start  of  all  the  Protestant  mis- 
sionaries in  Hong  Kong.  Several  French  Jesuits  went  there  from 
M  icao,  after  raising  very  large  sums  of  money  here;  got  a  grant 
of  the  very  best  place  on  the  island  for  a  chapel,  and  are  now 
building  a  chapel  and  school-house,  which  will  probably  cost 
$20,000  or  $25,000.  They  are  three  or  four  in  number,  some  of 
them  being  men  of  some  experience  and  knowledge  of  the  world. 
To  compete  with  such  men,  the  Protestant  churches  send  out  one 
or  two  young  men,  fresh  from  the  schools,  and  who  have  seen  lit- 
tle or  nothing  of  the  world.  However,  I  am  not  discouraged.  If 
God  has  chosen  us  to  build  it  who  are  "yet young  and  tender,"  he 
will  give  us  strength  to  carry  it  on,  and  we  will  say,  "  Not  by  might 
nor  by  power,  but  by  my  Spirit  saith  the  Lord."  We  do  hope,  how- 
ever, that  the  churches  will  adopt  the  language  and  the  spirit  of 
David,  wheai  he  said,  "Solomon  my  son  is  young  and  tender,  and 
the  hou^e  that  is  to  be  builded  for  the  Lord,  must  be  exceedingly 
magnifical  of  fame  and  of  glory  throughout  all  countries.  I  will 
therefore  now  make  preparation  for  it.  So  David  prepared  abun- 
dantly before  his  death." 

The  consideration  of  being  on  the  ground  and  ready,  I  think  of 
much  importance.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  doors  of  China, 
those  two-leaved  gates  of  brass  that  have  so  long  been  closed,  and 
guarded  by  the  great  Dragon,  are  shaking  and  will  soon  be  open- 
ed. Every  one  whom  I  see  is  more  and  more  of  this  opinion. 
Surely  the  time,  the  set  time,  to  favor  the  Chinese  is  come.  Their 
superstitions  are  literally  "old  and  ready  to  vanish  away."  Their 
attachment  to  the  government  is  very  slight.  They  are  daily 
gaining  more  correct  notions  of  the  power  of  other  nations :  the 
visit  of  the  Constellation  and  Boston  (now  at  Macao)  has  given 
them  higher  ideas  of  the  American  power  than  they  ever  before 
possessed.  The  success  of  the  British  will  probably  soon  complete 
the  subversion  of  their  narrow  prejudices,  and  they  will  be  far  more 
open  to  the  reception  of  Divine  truth  in  a  few  years  than  they 
have  ever  been  before.  It  is  all-important  that  the  good  seed  be 


138  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

sown  while  they  are  in  such  a  state.     If  we  do  not,  the  Roman 
Catholics  certainly  will  gain  the  ascendency. 

As  for  myself,  I  am  in  good  spirits  and  in  good  health.  My 
cup  is  running  over  with  blessings,  and  I  now  feel  more  anxioua 
to  remain  and  labor  for  these  Chinese  than  I  ever  did  before.  But 
it  is  hard  to  find  that  my  mouth  is  closed,  and  I  cannot  «peak  to 
them.  How  dreadful  their  condition  and  prospects,  and  yet  they 
do  not  know  it ! 

The  instructions  of  the  Committee,  we  understood,  were  that  a 
station  should  be  formed  on  the  island,  provided,  1st,  that  a  suffi- 
ciently large  lot  could  be  purchased  or  rented  under  perpetual 
lease  ;  2d,  that  the  persons  and  properly  of  the  missionaries  would 
be  protected ;  and  3d,  that  no  restrictions  would  be  laid  upon  our 
operations,  either  in  preaching,  teaching,  or  healing.  The  second 
and  third  provisos  were  easily  answered.  Full  protection  would 
be  given,  and  no  restrictions  wliatever  imposed.  The  first,  how- 
ever, was  not  so  easily  settled.  A  short  time  since,  the  island  was 
put  under  military  government,  and  all  further  grants  of  land  for. 
any  purpose  refused  until  further  orders  should  be  received  from 
the  home  government.  .  .  . 

Your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


China  Sea,  June  24th,  1842. 
MR.  JOHN  LT,OYD — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER: — I  am  often  thinking  of  you,  and,  espe- 
cially of  late,  ofren  wishing  I  had  you  out  here  along  with  me.  You 
must  come  out  to  China.  .  .  . 

Here  I  am  all  alone,  and  rather  lonely,  going  down  the  China 
Sea  against  the  monsoon,  and  wishing  most  heartily  that  I  were 
on  terra  firma  again,  and  settled  down  at  my  Chinese  studies. 
Excepting  sea-sickness,  and  a  very  slight  attack  of  fever  at  the 
commencement  of  this  last  trip,  I  have  been  uniformly  very  well 
since  leaving  New  York ;  and  have  been  enabled  to  see  and  hear 
a  good  deal,  and  to  collect  a  good  deal  of  information  respecting 
China  as  a  missionary  field.  I  know  you  will  be  anxious  to  hear 
what  I  think  of  it  m  that  respect,  so  I  propose  to  tell  you,  in  as 
few  words  as  possible,  what  I  think  of  it.  You  know  how  very 
unexpected  it  was  to  me  that  I  should  ever  be  a  missionary  to 
China.  It  is  not  a  year  yet  since  my  station  was  assigned  to  me 
in  this  part  of  the  world  ;  and  I  came  out  with  many  fears  and 
misgivings,  and  many  doubts  as  to  my  fitness  for  such  a  station, 
and  as  to  its  suitableness  for  missionary  labor  at  the  present  time. 
But  what  I  have  seen  and  what  I  have  heard  has  shown  me  many 
things  I  never  knew  before,  has  opened  up  to  me  views  of  its  vast- 
ness  as  a  field  for  labor  almost  overpowering,  arff'has  taught,  me 
that  many  of  its  difficulties  have  been  greatly  overrated.  It  has  its 
difficulties,  and  some  of  them*  such  as  the  evil  influence  of  foreign- 


LETTERS.  139 

ers,  though  I  knew  of  them  before,  are  far  greater  than  I  had  ex 
pected  ;  but  on  the  whole  I  am  greatly  encouraged.  There  is  a 
great  work  to  be  done,  and  the  men  are  now  wanted  to  perform 
it ;  and  it  is  not  required  that  these  men  should  be  angels  "  greater 
in  might  and  excelling  in  power"  the  rest  of  mankind,  in  order 
that  they  may  perform  it.  The  language  can  be  learned,  the 
people  can  be  approached  ;  and  I  verily  believe  that  China  is  now 
opening;  certainly  it  is  more  open  now  than  it  has  ever  been 
before.  Missionaries  can  now  labor  in  Macao  much  more  freely 
than  ever  before.  Hong  Kong  will  soon  be  perfectly  open.  Mis- 
sionaries are  now  at  Amoy  and  Chusan,  places  where  no  Protestant 
missionaries  have  ever  been  before ;  and  those  at  Amoy  and  Chu- 
san, where  I  he  people  have  not  been  as  yet  corrupted  by  the  evil 
influence  and  example  of  foreigners,  represent  them  as  an  uncom- 
monly interesting  people,  easy  of  access,  and  free  in  their  manners. 
They  are  heathen,  of  course,  and  have  the  vices  of  heathen  ;  but 
I  am  inclined  to  think  that  there  is  no  people  except  the  native 
Africans,  among  whom  I  would  more  readily  labor,  and  with  more 
hope  of  success,  than  among  the  Chinese;  and  this  1  think  is  say- 
ing a  good  deal ;  you  know  how  promising  a  people  I  have  always 
thought  the  Africans  are. 

1  am  not  able  now  to  give  you  the  facts  on  which  I  base  the 
above  conclusion.  Perhaps  I  may  at  some  other  time.  But  I 
never  felt  so  anxious  to  live  long  as  I  did  several  times  in  China, 
when  I  saw  the  Chinese  around  me,  and  wanted  to  preach  Christ 
to  them.  I  think  I  should  rejoice  to  wear  out  along  life  in  Christ's 
service  in  China. 

I  formed  some  very  pleasant  acquaintances  among  the  mission- 
aries in  China,  most  of  whom  I  have  seen,  and  some  of  them  fre- 
quently. .  .  . 

There  is  an  infinite  fund  of  wisdom  in  our  Lord's  saying  to  his 
apostles,  "Be  ye  wise  as  serpents."  Missionaries  above  all  other 
men,  it  seems  to  me,  need  to  be  men  of  prudence ;  not  actuated  by 
impulse,  but  influenced  by  steady  and  enlightened  principle.  Cer- 
tainly nothing  else  will  atone  for  the  want  of  prudence,  in  a  mis- 
sionary to  China  at  the  present  time.  A  "  prudent  counsellor"  is 
invaluable,  especially  now.  And  yet  there  is  very  great  danger  of 
having  prudence  degenerate  to  timidity,  and  thus  overpower  our 
zeal.  Surely  we  have  need  of  wisdom  from  on  high  to  direct  us. 
I  often  think  of  Solomon's  prayer  for  wisdom,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  rule  over  the  numerous  people  of  Israel. 

How  are  you  coming  on  in  matrimonial  affairs?  Let  me  whis- 
per in  your  ears  a  good  piece  of  advice.  Keep  your  eyes  open  ;  if 
you  see  one  who  would  make  you  a  good  and  prudent  wife,  by  all 
means  try  and  secure  her.  If  you  cannot  find  one  that  would  be 
an  helpmeet  for  you,  consider  it  an  intimation  of  Providence  that 
you  are  to  remain  unmarried  for  the  present,  and  come  out  single. 
Such  was  the  principle  I  acted  on  in  the  United  States,  and 
after  all  I  have  felt  and  seen.  I  am  more  and  more  convinced 


140  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

that  it  is  the  proper  course  to  be  taken.  The  missionaries  here  all 
recommend  that  a  man  should  be  married,  but  I  believe  (hey  all 
abhor  what  are  sometimes  called  "missionary  matches,"  and  I 
think  most  justly.  1  hope  you  will  by  example  and  precept  dis- 
countenance all  such  things. 

How  I  should  like  to  see  you,  and  chat  with  you  for  a  while ! 
Where  are  you?  what  doing?  How  are  you  getting  on?  What 
are  your  prospects?  When  will  you  be  licensed  ?  Are  you  ready 
to  come  out  here?  or  do  the  Nestorians  still  call  forth  your  sym- 
pathies ?  Do  you  still  remember  "  the  love  of  your  espousals  ?''  and 
that  bright  and  happy  season  at  Jefferson  College,  with  our  many 
pleasant  interviews,  and  the  walks  we  took,  and  the  prayers  we 
offered,  and  the  many  conjectures  and  plans  for  future  usefulness 
we  laid?  Some  who  started  with  us,  and  for  a  while  promised  as 
fair,  have  already  gone  back  ;  while  others  have  already  entered 
into  rest.  Why  are  we  spared?  What  are  we  doing?  Could 
we  now  rejoice  to  give  up  the  account  of  our  stewardship? 

Farewell — and  may  the  Lord  we  have  so  often  delighted  to 
worship  together,  still  watch  over  and  bless  thee. 

August  12th.  Dear  brother,  if  you  ever  come  to  China,  I  hope 
you  may  not  have  to  go  up  or  down  the  China  Sea  against  the 
monsoon.  After  fifty-three  days'  hard  work,  we  have  been  obliged 
to  abandon  the  effort,  and  are  now  going  to  Manila,  to  lay  in  fresh 
provisions,  and  prepare  for  another  effort.  The  monsoon  will  be 
nearly  over  in  a  month,  and  then  perhaps  we  may  succeed.  How 
often  have  I  thought  of  you  on  this  voyage,  and  wished  you  were 
here  ! 

Affliction  is  a  good  thing  to  make  one  study  the  Scriptures.  I 
never  understood  them  half  so  well  before,  nor  relished  so  much 
their  precious  promises.  This  has  been  a  pretty  severe  trial  to  me  : 
alone,  with  no  Christian  friend;  a  boisterous  sea;  hope  deferred 
until  the  heart  became  sick,  and  then  entirely  cut  off.  But  I  have 
become  pretty  well  reconciled  to  it,  and  can  even  rejoice,  "  for  the 
Lord  reigneth."  Why  he  has  thus  disappointed  my  expectations, 
I  cannot  yet  tell ;  but  no  doubt  for  wise  reasons.  This  affliction 
I  trust  is  doing  me  good,  and  I  shall  yet  justify  Him  in  all  his 
ways. 

Yery  truly  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


China  Sea,  June  22d,  1842. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

I  have  a  prospect  of  a  long,  lonely,  and  perhaps  tedious  passage. 
And  I  know  of  nothing  that  may  contribute  better  to  cheer  at  least 
a  few  of  its  lonely  hours,  than  to  keep  a  quiet  journal,  connecting 
me  once  more  with  "  hoir.e  and  home  folks ;"  so  I  pray  you  to  re- 
ceive this  little  manuscript,  as  another  proof,  if  proof  were  needed, 
that  I  have  not  forgotten  you,  and  do  not  think  of  you  with  the 


VOYAGE    ON   THE    CHINA    SEA.  141 

less  affection,  though  my  letters  may  not  at  all  times  be  composed 
with  so  many  laboriously  sought  expressions  of  affection,  and  long- 
ing desires  to  see  you  again,  as  you  may  sometimes  meet  with  in 
the  case  of  home-sick  travellers. 

There  were  two  vessels  to  leave  Macao  about  the  time  I  wanted 
to  go  to  Singapore,  the  Oiieida  and  the  Sea  Queen.  The  day  for 
the  sailing  of  the  latter  was  fixed,  that  of  the  former  was  not,  and 
was  uncertain.  The  Sea  Queen  would  probably  accomplish  the 
voyage  in  one  or  two  weeks  less  time,  being  better  built  for  such 
a  voyage.  She  was  described  to  me  as  having  "  splendid  accom- 
modations ;"  while  the  price  of  the  passage,  at  this  season,  was 
said  to  be  "very  reasonable."  I  thought  it  would  be  a  good  op- 
portunity of  seeing  something  of  an  English  sea-captain  and  offi- 
cers, who  had  been  some  time  in  this  part  of  the  world.  On  the 
whole,  the  advantages  seemed  to  preponderate  in  favor  of  the  Sea 
Queen  ;  so  I  engaged  my  passage.  She  was  advertised  to  sail 
June  18th,  (Saturday.)  1  was  informed,  however,  on  Saturday 
morning,  by  a  clerk  of  the  owners,  that  she  would  not  sail  till 
Monday,  p.  M.,  which  suited  me  very  well.  So  I  got  a  Chinese 
boat  on  Saturday  morning  to  take  the  boxes  and  a  keg  of  specie 
on  board.  The  distance  was  four  miles  at  least,  wind  dead  ahead, 
and  quite  a  heavy  sea  all  the  time;  occasionally  a  sprinkling  of 
spray  came  over  me,  as  the  boat  had  no  shelter  of  any  kind. 
It  being  impossible  to  sail  against  such  a  wind,  the  boatmen 
took  their  oars,  and  after  two  hours'  hard  pulling,  finding  them- 
selves still  half  a  mile  from  the  Sea  Queen,  they  laid  them 
down  and  put  up  the  sail,  intending  to  beat  out  the  rest  of  the 
way.  They  made  two  tacks,  which  occupied  another  hour,  and 
gained  only  half  the  distance.  A  heavy  rain  came  on,  making  it 
impossible  to  see  anything;  strong  wind  and  heavy  sea.  The 
head  man  of  the  boat,  who  for  some  time  had  seemed  disheartened, 
turned  to  me.  and  made  a  very  significant  gesture  towards  Macao. 
"No,"  said  I,  pointing  to  the  ship,  "there."  "No  can,"  said  he, 
"  no  can,  I  go  Macao ;  to-morrow  go  seep."  "  No,  no,"  said  I, 
"  go  ship  now,  there."  '•  No  can."  "  Yes  can  ;  put  down  sail ; 
take  oar;  go  ship,"  said  I,  explaining  myself  more  by  actions  than 
by  words.  But  the  fellow  grumbled  and  repeated,  "  No  can  do ; 
no  can  do."  "  Yes,  can  do ;  must  do  ;  put  down  sail ;  take  oar ; 
go  ship."  All  this  in  the  middle  of  a  soaking  rain.  After  a  good 
deal  of  persuasion,  I  at  last  succeeded  in  carrying  my  point,  and 
the  fellows  put  down  their  sail,  took  their  oars,  and,  I  must  say, 
worked  most  heartily.  In  fifteen  minutes,  the  rain  was  over  and 
we  were  along  side  of  the  Sea  Queen.  I  got  my  baggage  safely 
stored,  and  being  quite  wet,  1  hurried  on  shore  to  get  my  clothes 
changed.  The  wind  being  quite  favorable  for  going  ashore,  I  got 
back  in  half  an  hour ;  got  up  to  Mr.  Brown's,  and  changed  my 
clothes.  Late  on  Saturday,  word  came  that  the  •'  Sea  Queen  goes 
to-morrow  morning  at  daylight,  and  you  will  have  to  go  aboard 
to-night."  There  was  no  help  for  it ;  so  I  hastily  packed  up  ray 


142  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

trunk,  said  good-bye  to  my  kind  iriends,  to  all  of  whom,  and  espe- 
cially Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown,  I  had  become  very  much  attached,  and 
at  half-past  six,  got  aboard  another  Chinese  boat  to  go  out  to  the 
vessel.  It  rained  several  times  pretty  hard,  yet  we  got  out  in  two 
hoim  and  a  half.  It  was  rather  a  stormy,  uncomfortable  prepa- 
ration for  the  Sabbath  ;  and  I  could  not  think  without  longing  re- 
membrances of  the  man)'  pleasant  Saturday  evenings  on  board 
the  Huntress,  and  particularly  of  the  ';  preparation,"  as  '•  the  Sab- 
bath drew  near,"  at  home.  I  wondered  what  you  were  all  doing; 
and  whether  you  had  any  idea  of  my  situation, — alone,  weary, 
and  half  despondent.  However,  my  troubles  seemed  to  be  over 
when  I  got  safely  on  board,  and  I  thought  I  should  now  in  these 
"splendid  accommodations,"  have  at  least  a  quiet  and  pleasant 
voyage  to  Singapore.  But  I  began  to  think  very  soon,  that  I  had 
reckoned  without  my  host.  My  room  is  a  good,  large,  airy  apart- 
ment, and  high  enough  for  me  to  stand  upright;  but  it  has  no 
berth,  though  a  large  transom  supplies  the  place  of  that ;  no  table, 
no  wash-stand  ;  not  even  a  wash-basin  ;  no  lamp,  no  shelves,  only 
one  or  two  hooks,  and  one  stool ;  these  are  its  "  accommodations." 
The  first  thing  I  saw  when  I  went  in  at  night,  was  a  host  of  large 
cockroaches,  which  made  themselves  perfectly  at.  home  there ;  a 
quantity  of  spiders  and  spider's  webs  in  every  corner;  and  a  very 
unpleasant  odor,  caused,  I  suppose,  in  great  part,  by  the  cock- 
roaches, to  which,  after  three  or  four  days'  experience,  I  have  not 
yet  become  accustomed. 

We  were  to  have  sailed  at  daylight  Sabbath  morning,  but  did 
not  get  off  till  ten  o'clock ;  had  a  head  wind  and  rough  sea ;  and 
by  ten  o'clock,  p.  M..  we  had  gone  only  ten  or  fifteen  miles,  and  had 
to  anchor  just  outside  of  the  great  Ladrone  Island.  Next  day  we 
did  very  little  better,  and  beat  about  in  sight  of  land  all  day. 
Meantime  I  felt  very  poorly,  Sabbath  morning,  though  not  unwell. 
I  could  not  fix  my  thoughts  on  anything.  The  business  of  our 
mission,  and  various  plans,  kept  crowding  into  my  mind.  I  tried 
to  read  the  Psalms,  Life  of  Martyrs,  &c.,  but  could  not  with  any 
ease  or  pleasure.  Afternoon,  my  head  ached,  tooth  ached,  hands 
and  face  were  sore  from  being  sun-burnt  the  day  before,  and  I  had 
a  good  deal  of  fever,  which  kept  on  me  for  several  hours.  I  was 
tired  lying  down,  yet  too  weak  to  sit  up ;  and  it  was  too  wet  and 
unpleasant  to  be  out.  The  officers  were  too  busy  to  attend  to  me; 
and  Chun  Sing,  who  is  going  with  me  to  Singapore,  was  quite  sea- 
sick himself.  Oh,  how  often  I  thought  of  the  Huntress,  with  her 
nice  clean  sweet  cabins,  her  kind  captain,  pious  mate,  intelligent 
and  quiet  crew,  and  pleasant  passengers.  Everything  seemed 
different  here.  I  could  hardly  avoid  murmuring,  though  at  the 
same  time  I  felt  that  I  had  many,  many  more  comforts  and  mer- 
cies than  I  deserved,  and  after  a  while  I  became  rather  more  satis- 
fied. Next  day,  I  kept  getting  better;  got  several  refreshing  naps, 
and  in  each  of  them  had  a  sweet  and  pleasant  dream.  I  dare  not 
tell  you  the  first, — it  would  amuse  you  too  much.  In  the  second, 


VOYAGE    ON   THE    CHINA    SEA.  143 

I  dreamed  that  father  and  yourself  had  come  out  to  Macao  to  see 
me.  He  wanted  to  go  to  Singapore  in  the  Sea  Queen,  but  I  told 
him  to  go  in  the  Huntress  by  all  means.  We  had  to  part  for  a 
while,  and  I  was  very  anxious  for  him  to  read  the  letters,  and  par- 
ticularly the  official  one,  which  I  had  that  morning  left  in  the 
hands  of  a  young  friend  to  be  sent  to  America  by  the  first  vessel. 
I  hope  you  have  got  them  before  now.  I  had  some  trouble  to  get 
the  letters  for  him  in  time,  and  just  as  I  got  them,  I  awoke,  and 
behold  it  was  a  dream. 

Next  day,  Tuesday,  I  was  better  still;  and  to-day,  Wednesday, 
June  22d,  I  am  quite  well,  and  have  things  a  little  more  comfort- 
ably fixed.  I  have  told  Chun  Sing  to  come  to  my  room  every 
day,  and  read  the  New  Testament,  and  learn  the  Shorter  Cate- 
chism, &.c.  This  is  the  strength  of  the  S.  W.  monsoon,  so  that 
we  have  the  wind  strong  and  right  ahead,  and  shall  have  it  so  all 
the  way.  Consequently,  we  have  to  sail  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  at  least,  in  order  to  make  fifty  on  our  course. 

Saturday,  June  25th.  Here  we  are  still  beating  down  the  China 
Sea,  but  on  the  whole  making  very  fair  progress.  As  good  success 
as  we  have  had  thus  far  would  take  us  to  Singapore  in  twenty 
days,  and  I  should  be  pretty  well  satisfied  to  be  assured  we  should 
be  no  longer.  My  situation,  on  the  whole,  is  tolerably  pleasant ; 
though  I  do  sometimes  feel  sadly  out  of  sorts.  In  the  Huntress, 
when  I  had  no  other  employment,  I  could  sit  and  watch  our 
sailors ;  they  were  always  busy,  either  working,  or  talking,  or 
reading;  and  what  they  did,  they  seemed  to  do  heartily.  But 
these  Lascars  are  the  poorest  set  of  human  creatures  I  have  ever 
seen;  they  are  not  to  be  compared  to  the  Chinese.  There  must 
be  near  fifty  of  them  aboard,  though  the  vessel  is  not  much  more 
than  half  as  large  as  the  Huntress,  which  had  only  twenty  men 
and  boys  ;  and  yet  these  fifty  do  not  do  their  work  half  as  well  as 
those  twenty.  So  many  of  them  seize  hold  of  a  rope,  that  they 
are  actually  in  each  other's  way.  and  they  pull  as  if  they  were 
afraid  of  hurting  the  rope's  feelings.  And  then,  so  dirty ;  I  have 
not  seen  one  of  them  with  a  clean  article  of  dress  since  I  came  on 
board.  I  must  except  the  carpenter,  who  is  a  pretty  decent-look- 
ing fellow.  He  is  a  Chinaman.  It  does  me  good  to  look  at  him. 
I  do  not  want  to  see  our  butler  at  all,  however,  and  least  of  all  when 
I  am  eating, — with  his  soiled  turban  and  faded  shawl,  dirty  trow- 
sers,  and  apparently  unwashed  face  and  hands.  1  was  always 
fund  of  potatoes,  but  I  like  them  now  better  than  ever,  for  th-ey 
come  to  the  table  with  their  coats  on,  and  I  am  sure  they  are 
clean;  cannot  say  the  same  of  anything  else  at  table.  But,  a 
man  must  eat,  and  there  is  no  use  of  being  so  squeamish  ;  besides, 
I  am  usually  hungry  at  breakfast  time,  half-past  eight,  and  at 
dinner,  half-past  two;  and  these  are  the  only  meals  I  eat.  At  tea 
I  take  but  little,  the  lea  is  so  abominable  that  I  can  not  drink  it. 
And  the  dry  ship  biscuit,  the  only  bread  we  have,  is  not  very  in- 
viting by  itself. 


144  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  I.OWRIE. 

I  could  bear  these  little  matters,  if  other  things  were  right.  Our 
officers  are  to  me  quite  gentlemanly,  and  personally,  I  have  no 
complaint;  but,  they  evidently  consider  the  men  as  of  an  inferior 
caste.  And  the  men  feel  that  they  are  looked  upon  as  such. 
Some  of  the  men  have  rather  fine  countenances,  but  almost  all  of 
them  betray  vacant  minds,  or,  at  least,  minds  filled  only  with  the 
least  important  cares  of  this  passing  and  perishing  world.  How 
can  I  be  sufficiently  grateful  that  I  am  made  to  differ  from  them  ? 
As  to  religious  services,  at  present,  there  are  none  ;  and  this,  more 
than  anything  else,  makes  me  feel  alone.  The  most  pleasant  oc- 
cupation I  have,  is  to  spend  an  hour  every  morning  in  teaching 
Chun  Sing  the  New  Testament,  and  the  Shorter  Catechism.  And 
perhaps  I  may  give  another  hour  hereafter  to  other  studies. 
Then  I  read  Hengstenberg's  Chrislology,  History  of  Scotland,  The 
Middle  Ages,  &c. ;  study  a  little  Chinese,  and  about  China,  &c. 
I  write  some  every  day  ;  expect  to  have  a  host  of  letters  writ- 
ten when  I  get  to  Singapore  ;  and  if  a  vessel  should  be  going 
thence  to  the  United  States  direct,  they  will  arrive  sooner  than 
those  I  wrote  at  Macao. 

The  thermometer  has  stood  about  84°  all  week  ;  to-day,  85°, 
but  owing  to  the  strength  of  the  wind,  the  air  has  been  quite  pleas- 
ant. Numerous  flocks  of  flying-fish  are  constantly  starting  up,  as 
our  vessel  in  her  course  disturbs  them.  What  immense  numbers 
there  must  be  !  We  probably  startle  some  thousands  every  day, 
and  yet  the  course  of  our  ship  is  a  very  narrow  line  in  the  midst 
of  a  very  wide  sea.  Sea  sights  have  lost  much  of  their  novelty 
for  me  now,  and  I  have  to  seek  amusement  and  employment 
principally  in  myself.  It  is  well  for  me  that  I  can  do  so,  and  still 
better  that  there  is  one  above  me  to  whom  I  can  always  go.  For 
three  or  four  days  after  the  voyage  commenced,  I  could  hardly 
bear  the  thoughts  of  its  lasting  thirty  or  forty  days  ; — but  now  I 
am  disposed  to  say  with  cheerfulness,  "  The  Lord  reigns,  let  the 
earth  rejoice  !"  Let  him  hasten  or  retard  the  end  of  this  voyage, 
as  seems  best  to  himself,  for  He  doeth  all  things  well. 

Sabbath  evening,  June  26th.  At  the  close  of  a  silent  Sabbath, 
my  thoughts  turn  back  to  the  land  of  my  birth,  and  I  cannot  help 
asking,  how  are  you  all  ?  And  what  are  you  doing  ?  In  a  few 
hours  I  suppose  you  will  be  going  up  to  the  house  of  God.  You 
have  opportunities  of  communion  with  fellow  Christians.  Your 
hearts  are  cheered  at  the  sight  of  churches,  and  though  pained  at 
the  prevalence  of  wickedness,  yet  you  can  believe  that  the  Lord 
has  much  people  around  you.  It  is  not  so  here.  I  am  alone,  as 
far  as  Christian  society  is  concerned,  and  almost  alone  as  far  as 
any  society  is  concerned  ;  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  lands  where 
there  is  no  Sabbath,  few  churches,  few  Christians.  In  such  a  sit- 
uation I  find  it  a  very  hard  thing  to  keep  up  the  life  of  religion. 
At  home  one  depends  for  the  state  of  his  religious  feelings  very 
n  uch  on  the  general  tone  of  the  churches  around  him  ;  here  there 
is  nothing  of  the  kind  to  depend  upon.  Perhaps  this  is  an  ad- 


VOYAGE    ON   THE    CHINA    SEA.  145 

vantage,  for  it  causes  one  to  feel  more  entirely  his  dependence  on 
God,  the  great  Author  of  all  true  religious  emotions;  but  it  is  hard 
at  first,  to  become  reconciled  to  such  a  state  of  things,  and  like 
David  of  old,  I  can  well  say,  "  I  had  rather  be  a  door-keeper  in 
the  house  of  my  God,  than  to  dwell  in  the  tents  of  wickedness." 
When  you  go  up  with  the  great  congregation  to  worship  God,  do 
not  forget  those  that  are  in  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  that  are  far 
off  upon  the  sea.  True,  God,  your  God,  is  our  confidence  ;  but.  it 
is  pleasant  to  think  that  we  are  thought  of  by  you,  in  the  midst 
of  your  privileges.  The  tears  fill  my  eyes,  and  my  heart  is  full, 
when  I  think  of  you  and  your  enjoyments  ;  but  I  have  no  wish  to 
go  back.  Blessed  be  the  name  of  Christ  for  that  precious  promise, 
"  Lo,  I  am  with  you  always." 

And  yet  it  is  good  to  be  in  such  circumstances  occasionally. 
There  are  passages  of  Scripture  that  cannot  be  understood  other- 
wise. I  have  often  read  over,  and  dwelt  upon  the  eighty-fourth 
Psalm,  and  yet  all  my  previous  meditations,  and  all  the  commen- 
taries I  have  read  upon  it,  have  not  shown  me  its  sweetness  and 
beauty,  so  much  as  this  day's  experience. 

Truly,  "  Blessed  are  they  that  dwell  in  thy  house  ;  they  will  be 
still  praising  Thee."  But  tl^pse  who  enjoy  these  external  privi- 
leges, do  not  monopolize  all  the  blessings.  "  Blessed  is  the  man 
whose  strength  is  in  thee,  in  whose  heart  are  the  ways  of  them." 
Even  in  the  most  unfavorable  circumstances,  when  far  removed 
from  the  refreshing  dews  of  God's  house,  they  shall  enjoy  his 
favor.  "  Passing  through  the  valley  of  Baca  (weeping,.  Bochim,) 
he  maketh  it  a  well ;  the  rain  also  filleth  the  pools."  ("  As  the  rain 
cometh  down  from  heaven,  so  is  my  word,"  &c.)  Such  are  the 
consolations  of  wanderers  here  ;  and  hereafter,  after  they  have 
gone  from  strength  to  strength,  "  Every  one  of  them  in  Zion 
appeareth  before  God."  Such  truths  and  encouragements  may 
well  strengthen  a  lonely  wanderer  to  run  with  patience  the  race 
set  before  him  ;  and  while  he  cannot  but  feel,  that  a  day  in  the 
Lord's  courts  is  better  than  a  thousand,  yet  even  here  "  the  Lord 
God  is  a  sun  and  shield  ;  no  good  thing  doth  he  withhold  from  them 
that  walk  uprightly."  How  far  superior  is  such  a  lot  to  that  of  the 
proudest  of  this  world's  favorites  ;  truly  "  my  soul  doth  magnify 
the  Lord,  and  my  spirit  rejoiceth  in  God  my  Saviour." 

Monday,  June  27th.  I  did  not  expect  to  have  been  becalmed  in 
the  strength  of  the  monsoon  ;  but  we  are.  Have  hardly  gone 
twenty  miles  in  the  last  twenty  hours.  I  do  not  think,  however,  it 
will  last  long,  but  it  tries  the  captain's  patience  a  good  deal.  I 
have  been  busy  to-day,  and  happy,  though  alone. 

Tuesday,  June  28th.  We  made  eight  miles  yesterday,  and  from 
present  appearances  shall  not  make  much  more  to-day ;  though  a 
little  squall  we  had  this  afternoon,  may  have  carried  us  on  per- 
haps five  miles.  I  was  very  glad  the  squall  came,  for  in  the  rain 
our  dirty  Lascars  got  a  washing,  that  improves  their  appearance 
very  much.  I  have  now  got  to  feel  pretty  well  contented  and  at 

10 


146  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

home,  but  would  notwithstanding  be  very  glad  to  be  at  Singapore, 
and  better  pleased  still  to  be  at  Macao,  or  some  place  nearer 
China. 

As  you  wanted  to  know  what  we  live  on.  I  will  give  you  the 
account  of  one  day's  fare.  It  has  been  precisely  the  same,  every 
day  since  I  came  on  board.  Breakfast,  at  half-past  eight ;  tea, 
fowl  or  duck,  salt  beef,  salt  tongue,  potatoes,  rice  and  curry,  guava 
jam.  Our  only  bread  is  ship-biscuit.  For  dinner,  at  halt-past 
two  ;  soup,  commonly  pea  soup,  fowl  or  duck,  salt  beef,  salt  tongue, 
potatoes,  rice  and  curry,  pudding,  generally  of  some  kind  of  dough 
and  rather  heavy,  cheese,  preserved  ginger,  or  some  similar  sweet- 
meats. For  tea,  at  six  o'clock ;  tea  and  biscuit.  I  have  a  won- 
derful appetite  at  present,  and  eat  my  salt  beef  and  potatoes  with 
very  great  relish.  I  suppose  the  above  bill  of  fare  will  last  all  the 
voyage,  unless  the  fowls  and  ducks  should  happen  to  give  out- 
Wednesday,  June  29th.  With  reading  and  writing  and  eating 
and  sleeping,  my  time  passes  quite  comfortably,  though  I  often 
catch  myself  wishing  to  be  at  Singapore.  Yet  there  is  no  use  of 
being  impatient.  My  principal  reason  for  wishing  to  be  at  Singa- 
pore soon,  is  that  I  may  the  sooner  be  at  my  appointed  business. 
But  surely  the  Master  on  whose  business  I  am  sent,  knows  best 
when  I  ought  to  be  there,  and  it  is  in  his  power  to  hasten  or  re- 
tard my  arrival.  He  holds  the  winds,  and  can  cause  them  to  waft 
me  on  speedily,  if  He  sees  best.  If  He  does  not  choose  to  have  it 
so,  certainly  He  has  wise  reasons  for  doing  as  He  does,  and  I  ought 
contentedly  to  submit.  With  such  considerations,  I  try  to  allay 
the  impatience  I  sometimes  feel,  at  being  delayed  by  these  calms. 
Saturday,  July  2d.  Still  progressing  slowly.  Had  calms  every 
day  of  greater  or  less  duration,  from  Sabbath  till  to-day.  Though, 
as  we  commonly  had  a  little  wind  at  night,  and  that  such  a  wind 
as  enabled  us  to  proceed  directly  on  our  course,  we  have  probably 
gone  quite  as  far  as  we  should  have  done,  had  the  monsoon  been 
blowing  in  its  strength.  Yesterday  we  did  uncommonly  well.  We 
had  a  good  breeze  during  the  night,  that  carried  us  eighty  miles  di- 
rectly towards  Singapore.  To-day  we  are  going  perhaps  faster, 
but  not  so  directly  ;  we  are  running  now  between  south-east  and 
south,  or  to  speak  according  to  the  compass,  we  are  going  S.  S.  E. 
Having  been  pretty  busy,  my  time  has  passed  away  rapidly  and 
pleasantly,  though  I  do  at  times  feel  the  monotony  of  this  voyage 
quite  sensibly,  and  often  think  of  the  Huntress.  To  increase  my 
pleasure,  the  captain  said  that  two  months  ago,  as  he  was  going 
from  Singapore  to  Macao,  he  was  becalmed  ten  whole  days  in  sight 
of  a  small  island  near  Singapore,  and  he  believed  he  was  fated  to 
make  long  voyages  in  the  China  Sea.  There  !  while  I  am  writing 
I  see  the  sails  flapping  against  the  masts,  and  we  are  becalmed 
again  !  What  is  so  helpless  a  thing  as  a  ship  at  sea  in  a  calm? 
How  vain  is  all  human  power  in  such  a  case !  and  oh,  how  much 
more  dreadful,  is  the  spiritual  case  of  those  who  are  deprived  of 
the  influences  of  that  Spirit,  which  is  like  the  wind  that  bloweth 


VOYAGE    ON   THE    CHINA   SEA.  147 

where  it  listeth  !  If  Christians  were  half  as  anxious  to  obtain  the 
influences  of  the  Spirit,  as  sailors  are  to  catch  the  breeze,  what  a 
different  appearance  the  church  would  have. 

Wednesday,  July  6th.  The  calm  I  spoke  of  Saturday  p.  M.  lasted 
but  a  few  minutes,  and  we  have  had  the  monsoon  strong  ever 
since ;  strong  wind,  heavy  sea,  and  slow  progress.  Yesterday  we 
went  fifteen  miles  west  and  fifteen  south  ;  to-day,  thirty  miles 
west  and  twenty  north  ;  so  that,  as  far  as  latitude  is  concerned, 
we  are  worse  off  than  we  were  two  days  ago.  This  morning  the 
wind  was  so  strong  that  it  broke  our  main  top-gallant-mast,  and  the 
men  have  been  all  day  employed  making  a  new  one.  There  has 
been  so  much  motion  yesterday  and  to-day,  and  that  of  so  un- 
pleasant a  kind,  that  I  could  not  study  Chinese.  Just  as  I  get 
my  pencil  ready  to  make  a  neat  stroke,  away  goes  the  ship ;  and 
while  I  am  busy  holding  to  whatever  I  can  catch,  the  ship  stag- 
gers off,  and  leans  over  on  the  other  side,  and  a  wave  rushes  in  at 
one  of  the  lee  ports.  Still,  on  we  dash  on  our  foaming  way,  arid 
as  yet  no  harm  has  befallen  any  of  us.  My  situation  is  as  pleas- 
ant as  that  of  any  on  board,  indeed  more  so ;  a  good  large  room, 
plenty  to  eat  and  wear,  plenty  of  books  and  paper?,  and  at  present 
no  responsibility.  Yet  I  would  like  to  be  at  the  end  of  this  voyage. 
We  have  now  been  out  sixteen  days,  and  are  not  half  way  yet. 

These  poor  Lascars  have  rather  a  hard  life  ;  their  only  food  is 
rice,  with  a  very  little  curry.  They  sit  on  the  deck,  and  eat  with 
their  fingers,  three  or  four  out  of  the  same  dish.  They  sleep  on 
deck,  in  the  open  air,  with  only  a  coarse  piece  of  flannel  for  a 
covering.  No  provision  at  all  is  made  for  their  accommodation  in 
the  ;'  country  ships,"  no  forecastle  nor  berths.  If  it  rains,  they 
must  let  it  rain,  and  sleep  through  it,  or  else  keep  awake.  All 
hands  are  employed  all  day,  and  no  watches  are  kept,  as  on  board 
vessels  manned  by  English  or  Americans.  They  may  sleep  all 
night,  unless  they  are  wanted,  when  the  "  tindals,"  or  overseers, 
of  whom  there  are  four,  answering  to  boatswain  and  boatswain's 
mates,  sound  their  whistles,  and  call  all  hands.  Six  of  them, 
however,  at  a  time,  watch  for  two  hours  during  the  night,  and 
when  the  bells  are  struck,  every  half-hour,  the  one  nearest  raises 
a  yell,  for  I  can  call  it  nothing  else,  which  is  repeated  by  the  next> 
and  so  on  through  the  whole  six.  This  is  to  show  that  they  are 
awake ;  but,  for  all  the  watch  they  keep,  they  might  as  well  be 
asleep. 

The  "glorious  fourth"  passed  away  without  a  word  being  said 
on  the  subject.  I  thought  of  it,  and  of  the  last  fourth  of  July  I 
had  spent,  at  Marshall,  Michigan,  and  how  little  I  then  expected 
to  have  ever  been  tossing  about  on  the  China  Sea.  Who  knows 
what  a  day  may  bring  forth  1 

Saturday.  July  9th.  The  close  of  the  third  week  of  our  voyage, 

.  and  we  hardly  can  say  that  we  have  gone  half  way  !     We  have 

come  ten  degrees  of  latitude,  but  we  have  ten  degrees  more  of  lat- 

itude,  and  eight  of  longitude,  still  to  traverse  :  if  we  run  west,  wo 


148  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

cannot  go  south  ;  if  we  run  south,  we  must  also  run  east;  thus 
making  our  distance  in  longitude  greater.  But  why  should  I 
complain  ?  If  hope  is  deferred,  should  my  heart  be  made  sick 
thereby,  when  I  know  that  a  father's  kind  hand  defers  it?  I  felt 
greatly  reproved  this  afternoon,  as  I  sat  on  the  stern,  and  saw  a 
large  sea-fowl  slowly  sailing  over  the  waters.  Our  Heavenly  Fa- 
ther cares  for  it,  and  feeds  it.  even  on  these  wide  and  rolling  wa- 
ters ;  am  not  I  of  more  value  than  many  such  ?  Is  not  the  work 
I  am  engaged  in  more  for  his  glory,  than  the  preservation  and 
sustenance  of  the  fowls  of  the  air  and  (he  fish  of  the  sea?  And 
if  he  cares  for  them,  will  he  not  much  more  care  for  me  and  carry 
me  on  ?  Surely  he  knoweth  what  is  best  for  me,  and  most  for  his 
own  glory.  I  will  therefore  commit  my  way  unto  the  Lord,  and 
trust  also  in  Him.  He  will  bring  it  to  pass.  Forgive  me,  dear 
mother,  if  I  bring  these  things  improperly  to  your  eye  ;  I  have  no 
one  here  of  kindred  spirit  with  myself,  and  it  is  pleasant,  even 
though  on  paper,  and  afar  off,  to  give  utterance  to  sentiments  that 
I  know  will  find  a  response  in  your  own  feelings.  It  seems  to  me, 
were  I  once  more  in  the  society  of  fellow-christians,  I  should  prize 
much  more  highly  than  I  have  ever  done,  the  opportunity  of  talk- 
ing of  these  things, — of  "  speaking  one  to  another." 

Monday,  July  llth.  For  two  days  we  have  been  running  west, 
and  have  made  over  three  degrees  ;  but  a  strong  current  yesterday 
carried  us  more  than  a  degree  to  the  north  of  our  position  on  Sat- 
urday. The  officers  are  beginning  to  shake  their  heads,  and  pre- 
dict a  long  passage.  We  have  all,  I  think,  made  up  our  minds  to 
six  weeks  instead  of  four.  The  mate  told  me  to-day,  that  the 
Sea  Queen  had  never  had  a  fair  wind  for  a  whole  day  since  she 
was  launched,  about  fifteen  months  since  !  However,  I  do  not 
know  but  that  this  voyage  will  prove  a  very  profitable  one  to  me. 
It  reminds  me  of  several  facts  that  had  almost  entirely  escaped 
from  my  memory.  I  had  quite  forgotten  that  the  Apostle  Paul, 
after  being  in  journey  ings  often,  in  weariness,  in  pain  fulness,  <fcc., 
had  also  "thrice  been  shipwrecked,  and  spent  a  night  and  a  day 
in  the  deep."  So  it  seems  even  the  best  of  missionaries  did  not 
escape  from  some  troubles  on  the  seas.  I  bonder  if  he  had  as  fine 
a  state-room  as  I  have,  and  whether,  in  his  voyages,  he  had  to 
live  on  salt  provisions  and  hard  biscuit !  We  have  no  journals 
nor  diaries  and  the  like,  from  the  times  of  the  Apostles,  to  tell  us 
how  they  managed  on  such  occasions  ;  but  the  more  I  think  of 
the  matter,  the  more  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  I  am  better  o.T 
as  to  outward  things,  than  Paul,  or  almost  any  of  his  fellow-la- 
borers ;  and  therefore,  so  far,  I  have  not  much  reason  to  complain. 
Still,  I  must  say.  I  should  not  be  sorry  to  exchange  this  ship's  fare 
for  a  short  residence  in  Singapore.  However,  the  Huntress  has 
spoiled  me.  The  Sea  Queen  is  a  great  deal  better  ship  than  the 
Anna  Watson,  in  which  Mr.  McBride  went  to  Amoy. 

I  have  since  found  a  passage  of  Scripture  much  more  to  the 
point  than  the  one  above.  Acts  xxvii.  7.  "  And  when  we  had 


VOYAGE    ON   THE    CHINA   SEA.  145 

sailed  slowly  many  days,  and  scarce  were  come  over  against  Cni- 
dus,  the  wind  not  suffering  us,"  &c.  It  has  taken  such  hold  of 
me,  that  I  have  laid  it  up  for  future  consideration. 

Friday,  July  15th.  Through  the  obstinacy  and  self-will  of  our 
captain,  we  have  less  and  less  prospect  of  a  speedy  voyage.  He 
has  taken  a  notion  that  he  will  not  go  to  the  eastward  of  long.  112°. 
A  strong  current  has  prevailed  for  some  days,  which  drives  us 
northward,  and  has  almost  totally  rendered  our  tacks  to  the  south 
useless,'yet  he  persists  in  keeping  the  ship  off  to  the  west ;  conse- 
quently, for  four  days  we  did  almost  nothing.  Last  night  the 
wind  came  out  so  strongly,  that  he  could  not  go  to  the  westward 
without  going  north  of  north-west,  and  after  trying  for  six  hours 
to  go  westward,  he  was  obliged  to  give  up,  and  put  her  head  to 
the  south-east ;  consequently  to-day  we  have  made  nearly  a  de- 
gree of  southing,  and  I  hope  are  out  of  the  influence  of  the  current 
which  we  have  felt  ever  since  Sabbath  afternoon.  I  am  heartily 
sick  of  this  ship.  The"  mates  are  rather  clever  men,  but  so  ill- 
tempered  and  obstinate  a  man  as  the  captain,  I  have  hardly  ever 
seen.  He  treats  me  civilly  enough,  but  I  have  little  pleasure  at 
table,  from  the  seventy  of  his  temper  towards  the  servants. 

I  am  afraid  you  will  think  I  make  too  much  of  these  things, 
and  I  must  confess,  I  never  knew  I  had  so  impatient  a  spirit,  as 
the  delays  of  this  voyage  have  stirred  up  in  me.  It  has  been  a 
severe  conflict  within  me,  to  overcome  this  impatience ;  but, 
through  grace,  I  trust  I  am  now  in  a  great  measure  resigned  to 
these  things;  and  perhaps,  on  the  whole,  this  voyage  will  be  one 
of  the  most  profitable  I  have  ever  made.  It  gives  opportunities 
for  solitude  that  I  have  not  had  for  months  past,  teaches  me  how 
to  Value  privileges  I  do  not  now  enjoy,  discloses  myself  to  myself, 
and  forces  me  to  rely  not  on  human,  but  divine  strength. 

We  had  quite  a  gale  last  night,  with  a  very  heavy  sea ;  so  much 
tossing  and  pitching,  that  I  scarcely  slept  the  whole  night.  For 
the  time  it  lasted,  it  was  more  uncomfortable  than  the  gale  off  St. 
Paul's,  where  we  had  to  lie  to  for  twelve  hours.  We  were  almost 
lying  to,  the  greater  part  of  the  last  night,  but  now  (p.  M.)  we  are 
going  on  rather  pleasantly. 

Monday,  July  18th.  About  six  A.  M.,  on  Saturday,  the  wind  rose 
again  with  great  force,  and  it  was  the  middle  of  the  day,  yester- 
day, before  it  abated.  In  the  gale  on  Friday,  the  wind  split  our 
fore-topsail  and  jib,  and  others  had  to  be  put  up  in  their  places. 
On  Saturday  the  wind  split  the  second  fore-topsail,  main-topsail, 
and  spanker.  Ship  rolled  prodigiously,  and  for  a  while  things 
looked  rather  dark,  as  you  may  well  suppose.  A  strong  gale  and 
heavy  sea,  and  the  wind  dead  ahead,  are  not  very  pleasant  things. 
At  the  middle  of  the  day  on  Saturday,  we  were  not  more  than  one 
degree  further  on  our  course  than  we  were  seven  days  before ;  with 
a  slight  variation,  we  might  almost  have  adopted  Peter's  words  : 
"  We  have  toiled  all  night  and  caught  nothing." 

The  captain's  swearing  and  damning  everything  and  every- 


150  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

body,  had  been  so  trying  to  me,  that  I  was  greatly  at  a  loss  to 
know  what  to  do.  It  was  very  unpleasant  to  hear  him,  and  it 
seemed  like  "suffering  sin  in  him,"  not  to  tell  him  of  it;  and  yet, 
knowing  his  passionate  temper,  I  felt  afraid  to  say  anything,  lest 
it  should  only  make  him  worse.  However,  I  took  the  opportunity 
of  speaking  to  him  last  night  about  it,  when  he  seemed  to  be  in  a 
better  humor  than  usual.  I  was  most  agreeably  disappointed. 
He  looked  rather  hard  at  me  at  first,  but  almost  immediately  said, 
"  I  know  it  is  a  very  bad  habit — a  very  bad  habit.  I  feel  it  every 
time  I  do  so.  It  must  be  very  unpleasant  to  you.  There  is  not  a 
day  I  do  not  ask  for  forgiveness,  but  I  can  not  break  myself  of  it." 
We  talked  a  good  while  about  it,  and  I  had  the  opportunity  of 
dropping  a  good  many  truths  to  him,  which  may,  perhaps,  yet 
do  him  good.  He  said  he  had  observed,  that  often  when  he  was 
scolding  and  damning  the  men,  I  went  down  to  my  cabin.  "I 
felt  that,  for  I  knew  why  you  did  it,  and  I  am  very  sensitive  to 
such  things."  He  then  tried  to  excuse  it ;  did  not  think  it  was 
very  wrong,  for  he  did  not  mean  anything  bad  by  it,  &c.  I  re- 
ferred him  to  the  words  of  the  third  commandment,  "taking  the 
name  of  the  Lord  in  vain."  To  that  he  had  nothing  to  say.  He 
then  said,  one  could  not  get  along  without  it.  "  Here  these  men 
speak  fifty  languages  :  I  can  not  understand  them,  and  they  can  not 
understand  me  without  I  swear  at  them.  They  will  not  believe  you 
are  angry  or  in  earnest  unless  you  swear  at  them  !"  What  a  pic- 
ture of  the  moral  influence  of  nominal  Christians  over  the  heathen  ! 
and  yet  missionaries  have  to  la.:  to  convert  the  heathen  who  are 
employed  by  nominal  Christians  to  work  for  them  on  the  Sabbath 
day,  and  who  can  not  understand  "  Christian,  or  believe  him  in  ear- 
nest, unless  he  swears  at  them.  )f  course  I  protested  against 
such  an  opinion,  and  said  it  coulu  never  be  right  or  necessary  to 
swear.  We  then  talked  about  something  else ;  and  during  a 
pause  in  the  conversation,  he  abruptly  remarked,  "  I  know  it  must 
be  very  unpleasant  to  you,  and  perhaps  you  sometimes  thought  I 
did  it  intentionally,  but  I  did  not."  I  remarked  1  thought  him  too 
much  of  a  gentleman  to  do  that.  He  would  not  promise  positively, 
but  said  he  "  would  try  to  break  himself  of  the  habit." 

The  wind  is  such  to-day,  that  we  could  go  almost  in  a  south 
course — S.  by  E. — but  unfortunately  there  are  a  number  of  shoals 
in  that  direction,  and  this  wind  would  carry  us  among  them  in 
twelve  hours ;  consequently,  we  are  obliged  to  put  off  to  the 
north-west,  and  the  wind  being  strong,  we  "lose  a  point"  in  our 
course,  by  lee-way.  Such  are  some  of  the  troubles  of  the  voy- 
ager's life.  Do  not  forget,  to  pray  for  the  sailor. 

Tuesday,  July  19th.  Wind  more  favorable  still ;  we  can  go 
south,  and  someiimes  even  S.  by  W.,  but  being  still  too  near  the 
shoals  have  to  run  W.,  and  N.  W.  by  N.,  more  than  half  the 
time.  Yesterday  was  the  best  day's  work  we  have  made  in  a 
long  time,  thirty  miles  west  and  sixteen  south,  equal  to  about 
thirty-three  on  our  course,  i.  e.,  if  the  captain's  observation  was  a 


VOYAGE    ON   THE    CHINA   SEA.  151 

good  one,  of  which  he  is  doubtful.  We  are  now  very  seriously 
expecting  that  our  trip  will  be  of  two  months,  instead  of  one 
month.  But  the  Lord  reigneth,  I  trust  I  can  rejoice  thereat.  We 
certainly  have  evidence  that  He  is  watching  over  us.  To-day,  as 
I  was  lying  on  the  transom,  (there  has  been  so  much  motion  for 
a  week,  that  it  is  very  unpleasant  to  sit,  and  I  spend  more  than 
half  the  time  lying  down,)  very  quietly  reading  one  of  Irving's 
sketches,  I  heard  a  great  and  unusual  cry  on  deck.  As  it  con- 
tinued, I  ran  out  and  found  a  man  had  fallen  from  the  bowsprit 
into  the  sea.  Most  providentially,  he  caught  one  of  the  ropes 
thrown  to  him,  before  the  ship  had  gone  too  far,  and  was  drawn 
in.  The  sea  was  so  rough,  that  the  captain  could  hardly  have 
let  a  boat  down  for  him.  Had  it  been  night ;  had  the  sea  been 
rougher ;  had  he  fallen  on  the  other  side  of  the  vessel,  where  the 
waves  would  have  carried  him  from  her  ;  had  he  not  been  able 
to  grasp  the  rope ;  in  any  of  these  cases  he  would  have  been  lost. 
But  the  poor  heathen,  if  he  thinks  at  all  about  it,  will  ascribe  his 
escape  to  chance,  or  to  some  of  his  idols,  as  blind  and  helpless  as 
chance.  These  poor  fellows  have  a  great  horror  of  the  sea.  It 
is  only,  by  high  wages  that  they  will  serve  as  sailors.  These  men 
get  fourteen  rupees  monthly,  or  nearly  seven  dollars,  a  large  sum 
for  such  sailors ;  and  after  all,  the  greater  part  of  the  crews  of 
the  "  country  ships"  are  impressed  by  force,  and  carried  off  with- 
out their  own  consent. 

July  2 1st.  Here  we  are,  fifty  miles  north  and  thirty  miles  west 
of  our  station,  day  before  vest. (/ ay.  Quite  a  gale  came  on  yes- 
terday afternoon,  and  we  have  ween  almost  lying  to  for  twenty- 
four  hours.  We  have  one  dy-cL,  and  ten  fowls  left,  and  nearly  a 
certainty  of  having  only  sa'  nieat  for  a  few  weeks  to  come,  un- 
less Providence  so  order  it  tiA,\t  we  get  to  Singapore  next  week, 
which  might,  be  done,  even  in  this  monsoon,  under  favorable  circum- 
stances. The  captain  has  begun  to  talk  of  allowances  of  wood, 
water  and  provisions.  Outward  things  look  gloomy.  I  do  not 
say  these  things  by  way  of  complaint,  for  I  feel  less  disposed  to 
complain  now,  than  at  any  previous  part  of  the  voyage,  but  to 
give  you  some  idea  of  our  situation.  As  to  myself,  I  find  the 
promises  increasingly  precious,  and  I  think  I  shall  soon  have  Acts 
xxvii.  by  heart.  It  becomes  more  and  more  instructive.  Still, 
hope  has  not  yet  left  me,  that  we  may  make  a  reasonable  voyage 
as  to  time,  though  the  prospect  is  more  and  more  discouraging. 
Such  times  as  these,  head  winds,  tossing  tempests,  and  adverse 
currents,  make  me  think  of  that  happy  place,  where  "  there  is 
no  more  sea." 

The  most  unpleasant  thing  about  our  present  situation,  is  its 
uncertainty.  We  may  have  a  favorable  wind  to-morrow,  and  soon 
reach  our  "  desired  haven."  We  may  toss  about  here  for  weeks, 
and  at  last  not  be  able  to  make  the  port  after  all.  But  "  the  Lord 
reigns,  let  the  earth  rejoice.  Clouds  and  darkness  are  round 


152  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

about  him,  but  righteousness  and  judgment  are  the  habitation  of 
his  throne." 

July  22d.  Worse  and  worse  ;  after  running  for  eighteen  hours  to 
the  N.  W.  and  W.  N.  W.,  and  six  hours  S.  S.  E.,  at  the  rate  of 
four  miles  an  hour  all  the  time,  we  find  ourselves  twenty  miles 
north,  and  ten  miles  east  of  our  station  yesterday  !  The  current 
here  must  be  tremendous.  We  are  almost  at  our  "  wits'  end." 
We  have  now  been  beating  about  for  a  week,  most  of  the  time 
unrler  double-reefed  topsails,  and  have  made  almost  no  progress. 
Indeed,  we  are  very  little  farther  on  than  we  were  two  weeks  ago. 
Yet  I  am  thankful  to  find  that  my  own  mind  is  calm  and  peace- 
ful most  of  the  time.  I  should  greatly  regret  to  be  obliged  to  put 
back  to  Macao ;  and  should  be  most  heartily  glad  to  be  at  Singa- 
pore, or  to  be  assured  of  getting  there  in  three  weeks ;  but  it  is  the 
Lord  who  has  "  raised  the  stormy  wind,"  and  he  has  wise  ends  in 
view.  It  is  not  very  comfortable  being  here.  My  health  may 
suffer  for  want  of  exercise,  there  being  so  much  motion,  it  is  hard- 
ly possible,  with  safety,  to  take  any ;  the  affairs  of  the  mission 
may  be  retarded  somewhat  by  my  detention  ;  Dr.  Hepburn  may 
be  in  need  of  the  funds  I  have  with  me,  so  may  Mr.  Buell.  Our 
removal  to  China,  should  that  be  resolved  on,  may  be  delayed  a 
good  while,  &c. ;  but  all  these  things  are  known  to  Him  who  con- 
trols my  course,  and  He  will  care  for  his  own  cause.  Cowper's 
hymn, 

"  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way," 

is  a  very  precious  one,  especially  the  last  lines : 

"  God  is  his  own  interpreter, 
And  he  will  make  it  plain." 

Saturday,  July  23d.  Twenty  miles  to  the  east  of  our  station 
yesterday  ;  same  latitude. 

"  Woe  is  me  that  I  dwell  in  Mesech,  and  sojourn  in  the  tents  of 
Kedar  !"  I  pray  God,  my  dear  mother,  that  neither  you  nor  any 
other  of  my  friends  may  ever  be  placed  as  I  now  am,  at  least  so 
far  as  society  is  concerned.  I  have  spoken  before  of  the  captain's 
temper.  To-day,  both  at  breakfast  and  dinner,  it  has  broken  out 
against  the  servants  in  a  most  unpleasant  manner.  I  had  almost 
got  up  from  the  table  before  dinner  was  half  over.  I  do  not  won- 
der that  they  try  his  patience,  for  such  a  set  I  never  saw.  We 
have  three  to  wait  on  the  table,  besides  the  cook  and  the  dish- 
washer, and  this  morning  they  complained  that  there  was  too 
much  to  do  !  There  are  but  four  of  us  at  the  table  here,  while  in 
the  Huntress  two  waited  on  eight,  and  did  it  incomparably  bet- 
ter than  these  three,  besides  attending  to  the  state-rooms,  and  keep- 
ing the  cabin  and  all  the  dishes  as  clean  and  sweet  as  could  be 
desired.  These  fellows  never  think  of  cleaning  the  cabins,  and 
frequently  I  cannot  find  a  clean  tumbler  to  get  a  drink  with  ! 
More  than  once  I  have  been  obliged  to  send  away  the  knife  and 
fork  they  handed  me,  and  tell  them  to  give  me  clean  ones.  Still, 


VOYAGE    ON   THE    CHINA    SEA.  153 

it  is  very  unpleasant  to  witness  and  be  obliged  to  bear  with  such 
outbursts  of  temper.  "  Oh  that  I  had  the  wings  of  a  dove  ;  then 
would  I  fly  away  and  be  at  rest."  Do  not  think  me  discontented. 
I  have  felt  and  enjoyed  for  several  days  past,  the  power  of  religion ; 
and  do  generally  enjoy  great  peace  of  mind,  though  at  times  I  am 
"in  heaviness  through  these  temptations."  How  dreadful  it  would 
be  to  dwell  forever  in  such  society  ! 

Monday,  July  25th.  I  see  the  China  Sea  in  an  entirely  different 
aspect  this  voyage,  from  what  it  was  in  May,  when  we  went  up. 
Then  all  was  calm ;  now  all  is  stormy.  We  are  lying  to  to-day 
again,  after  splitting  three  or  four  more  sails.  Yesterday  and  to- 
day have  been  so  cloudy  as  to  allow  no  observation,  and  we  know 
not  where  we  are.  I  almost  begin  to  doubt  whether  we  shall  ar- 
rive at  Singapore  at  all,  during  this  monsoon.  We  have  now 
been  out  the  usual  time  required  to  make  the  trip,  and  the  pros- 
pect is  darker  than  ever.  The  captain  talks  of  going  to  Manila 
to  lay  in  fresh  stores.  We  shall  be  obliged  to  do  this  before  long, 
if  we  do  not  soon  arrive  at  Singapore,  as  we  have  provisions  for 
but  little  more  than  a  month  longer.  However.  I  am  not  discour- 
aged. "Jehovah  Jireh.  In  the  mount  it  shall  be  seen."  God  is 
accustomed  to  reveal  himself  when  his  creatures  are  at  their  greatest 
extremities.  I  have  been  comparing  my  condition  with  that  of 
the  Lascars  on  board  ;  ill-fed,  ill-clothed,  ill-treated,  working  hard, 
few  social,  no  intellectual,  and,  worse  than  all,  no  spiritual  privi- 
leges. How  much  is  my  condition  better  than  theirs  ! 

Friday,  July  29th.  We  are  now  near  two  hundred  miles  further 
north  than  we  were  last  week,  and  about  sixty  miles  further  from 
Singapore  than  we  were  fifteen  days  ago.  I  thought  that  I  under- 
took this  voyage  in  obedience  to  the  intimations  of  Providence,  but 
hitherto  they  have  almost  all  been  against  us.  One  gale  this 
week  drove  us  eighty  miles  to  the  northward  in  less  than  twenty 
hours ;  head  winds  and  adverse  currents  make  it  nearly  impossible 
to  proceed.  Our  provisions  will  last  us  but  a  month  longer,  and  it 
would  require  almost  all  that  time  in  favorable  circumstances  to 
make  the  remainder  of  our  voyage. 

To  be  sure  all  anxiety,  even  on  these  points,  is  quieted  by  the 
recollection  that  Christ  is  "  head  over  all  things  for  the  church," 
and  that  all  things  shall  work  together  for  good,  to  them  that  love 
God ;  but  sometimes  I  forget  these  r.J.ings.*  I  would  not  willingly 
undertake  another  such  voyage  a*  «nis,  and  yet  I  must  say,  so 
great  have  been  the  benefits  which  I  nave  received  from  this  trial, 
that  they  far  more  than  counterbalance  all  the  inconveniences 
hitherto  endured.  Still  we  are  not '".quired  to  seek  afflictions,  and 
I  should  greatly  rejoice  to  be  one",  more  on  solid  ground ;  yet 
while  detained  I  hope  to  be  sustained. 

Saturday,  July  30th.  The  pleasantest  day  we  have  had  for 
weeks ;  a  light  clear  sky,  blue  sea,  little  motion,  and  pleasant 

*  I  am  not  quite  sure  that  I  recollect  right,  but  I  think  Bunyan  makes  Mr.  Forget- 
good  Mayor  of  Mansoul  in  place  of  my  Lord  Understanding,  which  is  very  appropriate. 

20 


154  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

breeze.  At  noon,  the  captain  put  his  head  into  my  room,  crying1, 
with  great  glee,  "  Hurrah,  she  springs  it  again  !  We  have  made 
ten  miles  southing  !"  The  first  time  we  have  been  able  to  get  to 
the  south  for  a  week,  though  we  have  had  more  favorable  winds. 
This  is  a  "  little  reviving  in  our  bondage,"  among  these  currents. 
If  it  will  only  continue!  In  a  case  like  this,  one  is  in  danger 
either  of  building  too  much  on  such  a  prospect  as  we  have  to-day, 
or,  on  the  other  hand,  of  "despising  the  day  of  small  things,"  and 
being  cast  down,  because  it  is  no  better. 

I  was  much  struck  with  Isa.  xxvi.  4,  yesterday  evening.  The 
literal  translation  of  the  Hebrew  is,  "  Trust  ye  in  Jehovah  even  for- 
ever, for  in  Jah  Jehovah  is  the  rock  of  unending  ages."  No  trans- 
lation, however,  can  give  the  force  of  the  original.  It  is,  I  think, 
even  more  emphatic  than  "  the  five  negatives,"  Heb.  xiii.  5,  on 
which  you  may  have  seen  some  very  delightful  remarks  in  Nevin's 
Practical  Thoughts.  I  think  if  I  ever  know  enough  of  Chinese  to 
be  of  any  service  in  translating  the  Bible  into  it,  I  shall  find  it  a 
very  pleasant  employment.  I  find  that  in  proportion  as  I  closely 
examine  almost  any  passage,  it  presents  gems  more  and  more 
sparkling.  Thus,  in  the  above  passage,  in  addition  to  the  triple 
mention  of  the  name  Jehovah,  the  peculiar  name  of  God,  as  the 
Covenant  God  of  his  people,  the  first  "  forever"  is  literally  "  eter- 
nities of  eternity  ;"  and  the  last  expression  is  "  the  rock  of  ever- 
lastings." Well  might  the  Psalmist  (Ps.  cxliv.  15.)  say,  "  Happy 
is  that  people"  (literally,  O  the  blessednesses  of  that  people,) 
"  whose  God  is  Jehovah  /" 

Monday,  Aug.  1st.  Delightful  weather  and  fair  progress ;  yes- 
terday, forty-six  miles  direct ;  to-day,  fifty-six  to  the  east,  and  three 
to  the  south  ;  and  wind  getting  more  favorable.  If  this  weather 
continues,  we  hope  to  be  in  Singapore  in  less  than  three  weeks. 

Tuesday,  Aug.  2d.  Still  progressing  at  a  very  fair  rate.  Saw 
the  coast  of  Cochin  China  to-day,  about  thirty  or  forty  miles  off. 
It  is  high  and  mountainous,  but  we  have  not  gone  near  enough  to 
see  its  features  very  distinctly.  The  part  we  saw  was  Cape 
Varela,  or  the  Pagoda  Cape — so  called  from  a  very  large  rock  on 
the  side  of  the  mountain,  just  behind  the  cape.  It  has  a  very 
singular  appearance. 

Saturday,  Aug.  6th.  After  going  on  swimmingly  for  four  or  five 
days,  we  found  ourselves  beset  by  a  current  yesterday,  which  be- 
came very  strong  to-day,  and  has  sent  us  a  long  way  to  the  east- 
ward. This  casts  rather  a  damp  over  our  spirits.  ^Where  we  are 
now,  Lat.  11°,  is  the  narrowest  part  of  the  sea,  and  if  we  meet  a 
current  anywhere  it  is  likely  to  be  here.  Could  we  only  get  two 
degrees  further  down,  we  should  probably  be  safe  enough.  To- 
day finishes  our  forty-ninth  day,  and  yet  we  are  hardly  more  than 
half  way  ;  yet  the  weather  is  fine,  and  we  still  hope  for  the  best, 
though  I  assure  you  it  is  quite  trying.  What  shall  the  end  of 
these  things  be  ?  Here  I  am  all  alone  ;  no,  not  alone  ;  for  God  is 
here,  and  He  whose  Providence  did  so  remarkably  arrest  me  a 


VOYAGE    ON   THE    CHINA    SEA.  155 

year  ago,  and  turn  my  course  from  Africa  to  China,  and  has 
brought  me  hither,  too,  will  not  now  desert  me.  Nothing  encour- 
ages me  so  much  in  regard  to  my  labors  in  this  mission,  as  the 
recollection  that  I  have  been  sent  here.  I  should  never  have  come 
of  my  own  free  choice ;  and  I  am  sure  that  He  who  has  sent  me 
has  work  for  me  to  do,  for  which  he  will  strengthen  me.  It  may 
be  He  has  sufferings  for  me  to  endure,  and  though  the  thought  of 
them  almost  makes  me  tremble,  for  the  rod  I  have  felt  on  this  voy- 
age has  been  hard  to  bear,  and  for  the  present  grievous,  yet  will 
his  grace  therein  be  sufficient  for  me.  If  he  has  neither  work  for 
me  to  do,  nor  trials  for  me  to  bear,  then  my  course  is  almost  done. 
And  it  is  no  further  from  this  rough  sea  to  heaven,  than  from  the 
soft  beds,  and  the  kind  and  soothing  attentions  of  home ;  and 
never,  I  trust,  either  in  this  world,  or  in  the  world  to  come,  shall  I 
regret  that  I  have  left  father  and  mother,  and  brethren  and  sisters, 
for  the  kingdom  of  heaven's  sake. 

I  could  wish  I  had  a  Christian  friend  near.  Even  this  commu- 
nion with  you  on  paper,  with  "  pen  and  ink,"  when  I  "  have  many 
things  to  say,"  and  can  write  but  a  very  few  of  them,  is  refresh- 
ing. How  often  I  think  of  you! — of  the  hasty  breakfast  that 
morning.  How  Reuben  was  like  a  silent  cricket  all  the  time ; 
how  Jane  burst  into  tears  when  I  came  away  ;  of  the  meeting  in 
the  Mission  rooms,  and  the  kind  friends  there ;  of  the  walk  down 
to  the  ship,  when  the  sun  shone  out  so  clear  ;  of  the  crowd,  and 
the  bustle,  and  the  hurry  there  ;  the  parting.  I  can  see  you  yet, 
waving  your  handkerchiefs  for  the  last  time;  brother  John's  last 
blessing  yet  sounds  in  my  ears ;  and  I  think  how  poor  Elizabeth 
was  watching  over  Samuel's  sick  couch  at  the  time.  Again,  1  see 
you,  and  father,  and  Reuben.  Now,  the  ship  has  moved,  and  I 
see  you  no  more  !  It  is  too  much.  I  do  not  often  weep  ;  but  some- 
times :  and  yet  they  are  not  tears  of  sorrow,  but  of  affection,  and 
fond  remembrance.  In  this  world  there  is  partings  and  sorrow. 
In  this  world  there  is  perplexity  and  disappointment ;  in  this  world 
we  "shall  have  tribulation."  But  in  heaven  there  is  no  more 
parting,  and  "  no  more  sea  ;"  no  more  tribulation,  for  "  sighing  and 
sorrow  shall^ee  away,"  not  go  away,  but^ee  away. 

*#*#**# 

[The  rest  of  this  Journal  was  destroyed,  as  stated  on  page  130.] 


156 


MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 


COURSES    OF   THE   SEA    QUEEN,   HARMONY   AND    LONG    BOAT. 


LETTERS.  157 

China  Sea,  June  27th,  1842. 
MR.  JOHN  M.  LOWRIE — 

MY  DEAR  COUSIN  : — .  .  .  I  can,  as  yet,  hardly  enjoy  the  sight  of 
anything  I  see,  for  the  overpowering  conviction,  that  the  inhab- 
itants of  these  lands  are  wholly  given  up  to  idolatry,  and  all 
going  down  to  everlasting  death.  But  I  suppose  in  a  few  years,  I 
shall  acquire  a  sort  of  familiarity  with  such  things,  and  look  on 
them  almost  as  matters  of  course.  Here  I  am,  urging  my  way 
down  the  China  Sea,  against  the  south-west  monsoon.  For  a  few 
days  after  coming  on  board,  I  felt  very  lonely  indeed,  but  am  now 
somewhat  more  reconciled  to  it.  But  I  was  hardly  long  enough 
on  shore,  (only  three  weeks,)  to  become  ready  for  a  month's  con- 
stant application  to  books,  and  it  "requires  some  skill  so  to  diversify 
my  studies,  as  not  to  become  wearied  very  soon. 

In  thinking  over  what  would  be  most  pleasant  ar^d  profitable  in 
a  letter  to  you.  I  cannot  think  of  anything  t|Sp.t  would  probably 
suit  you  better  than  to  give  you  some  idea  of  ;my  employment  on 
the  voyage  out.  As  you  may  have  yourself  to  make  a  voyage  of 
the  same  kind  before  very  long,  it  will  assist  you  some  in  selecting 
the  number  of  books  you  will  want,  and  helping  you  to  form  some 
idea  of  what  you  may  be  able  to  accomplish.  We  were  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-seven  days  out.  Of  this  I  was  sick  a  week,  too 
sick  to  do  anything.  Another  week  was  spent  in  recovering  from 
sea-sickness,  and  getting  in  proper  tune  to  study,  &c.,  and  another 
week  was  taken  from  study  by  storms,  anchoring  at  Angier,  and  the 
like.  This  left  about  one  hundred  days  that  could  be  improved. 
I  preached  eyery  Sabbath  except  the  first,  and  once  in  April,  when 
we  had  a  storm,  and  commonly  prepared  the  sermon  in  the  week 
beforehand.  .  .  . 

I  had  about  six  hours  daily  on  an  average  for  my  own  studies. 
I  may  say  here,  that  after  the  first  two  weeks,  I  spent  near  two 
months,  with  quite  a  zest  in  my  studies.  Then,  as  we  were  "  run- 
ning down  our  easting,"  in  Lat  40°  south,  we  had  a  great  deal 
of  very  rough  weather.  After  that  the  weather  was  warm  ;  and 
I  probably  did  less  in  the  last  two  months,  than  in  either  of  the 
preceding  two. 

During  the  whole  voyage,  I  read  Genesis,  and  twenty-seven 
chapters  of  Exodus  in  Hebrew  ;  this  always  before  breakfast. 
Went  over  Legendre's  Geometry,  and  commenced  Algebra  ;  but 
found  the  Mathematics  dry  work,  and  gave  them  up.  Read  Edwards 
on  the  Will,  twice  ;  Hill's  Divinity  ;  Neal's  Puritans, — had  read 
half  before,  and  finished  now  ;  Symington  on  the  Atonement ; 
Winslow  on  the  Spirit ;  Smith  on  the  Apostolic  Succession  ;  about 
half  of  Hume's  England ;  D'Aubigne's  Reformation  ;  Jesse's  Court 
of  England  ;  Bancroft's  United  States  ;  Carlyle's  Freridft  Revolu- 
tion ;  Lockhart's  Napoleon  ;  Two  Years  before  the  Mast ;  The 
Retrospect ;  Phrilips'  Guide  to  the  Perplexed  ;  Lyell's  Geology ; 


158  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

Curiosity  Shop ;  Barnaby  Rudge  ;  Pickwick  Papers  ;  Poor  Jack  ; 
besides  a  good  deal  of  miscellaneous  reading,  referencing,  &c.,  and 
writing  a  journal  of  some  two  hundred  and  forty  pages,  letter 
paper,  which  1  hope  will  be  in  mother's  hands  before  you  receive 
tlii-.  '  In  addition,  I  learned  the  names  and  the  positions  of  the 
princip  il  fixed  stars.  This,  I  believe,  comprises  all  I  did,  at  least 
I  do  not  now  recollect  of  anything  more.  It  is  not  vanity  that 
h;i-  induced  me  to  make  this  statement,  for  I  do  not  think  1  did 
near  as  much  as  I  might  have  done,  and  I  would  not  have  men- 
tioned it  at  all,  but  that  it  may  possibly  be  of  some  assistance  to 
you  hereafter. 

I  found  our  ship  on  some  accounts  a  good  place  for  keeping  up 
the  spirit  of  piety  ;  on  others,  not  so  favorable.  I  was  greatly 
favored  in  the  fact,  that  the  first  mate  was  devotedly  pious.  I 
have  seldom  met  a  man  more  so;  the  rest  of  our  company  were 
all  persons  who  regarded  religion  with  respect.  But  in  so  small  a 
place,  one  cannot  be  alone.  I  never  could  pray  aloud  in  secret; 
could  with  difficulty  keep  a  day  of  private  religious  exercises;  and 
sometimes  could  hardly  even  secure  a  short  time  for  solitude  and 
meditation,  except  by  shutting  myself  up  in  my  little  six  feet  by 
four  room,  which,  with  the  thermometer  at  80°  and  above,  was 
not  very  pleasant.  The  mate  was  always  ready  and  glad  to  talk 
with  me  on  religion,  and  many  a  pleasant  hour  did  we  spend, 
leaning  over  the  ship's  side,  with  the  stars  shining  above  us.  talk- 
ing of  spiritual  things.  But  he,  of  course,  could  not  counsel  with 
me  in  regard  to  the  affairs  of  our  mission,  and  it  was  chiefly  in  this 
respect  that  I  felt  the  want  of  a  companion.  The  sailmaker,  I 
think,  is  also  a  pious  man,  and  I  had  several  very  pleasant  talks 
with  him.  It  has  been  on  the  whole  a  part  of  my  life,  to  which  I 
look  back  with  a  very  great  deal  of  pleasure.  I  do  not  expect 
often  \o  spend  my  time  with  more  of  pleasure  and  profit  combined. 
I  am  now  trying  to  study  Chinese,  but  have  not  yet  made  a 
sufficient  trial  to  speak  with  any  certainty  of  my  prospects.  From 
all  I  could  learn  about  it,  however,  from  the  missionaries  and 
others,  I  do  not  feel  discouraged.  But  I  must  close.  The  blessing 
of  our  common  Lord  rest  on  you  evermore. 

Your  affectionate  cousin. 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


China  Sea.  August  16th,  1842. 
REV.  T.  L.  MCBRYDE— 

Mv  DEAR  BROTHER  :— I  left  Macao  June  18th  in  the  Sea  Q,ueen 
for  Singapore.  We  expected  a  short  passage  down  the  China  Sea, 
and  it  never  entered  into  my  head,  that  we  should  be  unable  to 
accomplish  the  voyage.  But  I  have  sorely  found,  that  the  Lord's 

ways  are  not  as  our  ways,  nor  his  thoughts  as  our  thoughts 

After  beating  about  for  thirty-one  days,  we  found  our  wood,  water 
and  provisions  growing  short,  and  as  the  current  was  then  so 


VOYAGE    ON    THE    CHINA    SEA.  159 

strong  that  we  could  make  no  progress  against  it,  we  very  reluc- 
tantly turned  about,  (Aug.  11,)  and  shaped  our  course  for  Manila, 
meaning  there  to  refit.  But  our  troubles  were  not  over  yet.  The 
wind,  which  had  been  directly  in  our  teeth,  when  we  tried  to  go  to 
Singapore,  now,  when  we  wanted  to  go  the  other  way,  first  veered 
about  to  S.  E.,  and  then  fell  a  dead  calm,  and  for  three  days  we 
made  very  little  progress.  This,  as  you  may  suppose,  was  not 
very  pleasant.  We  were  three  hundred  miles  from  Manila,  under 
an  almost  vertical  sun,  and  our  water  not  likely  to  hold  out  many 
days.  It  seemed  fora  while  as  though  Satan  had  received  permis- 
sion to  try  us,  somewhat  as  he  did  Job — first  in  our  property,  by 
delaying  our  voyage,  and  then  in  our  persons,  making  us  to  appre- 
hend suffering  from  thirst.  However,  to-day  things  look  rather 
more  favorably.  We  had  hoped  to  be  in  Manila  to-day,  but  these 
calms  have  delayed  us  a  good  deal.  A  moderate  monsoon  would 
carry  us  there  in  two  days,  but  it  may  be  a  week  yet  before  we 
get  in.  I  have  no  idea  how  long  we  shall  remain  there ;  our  cap- 
tain is  very  undecided  on  that  point ;  perhaps  a  week  or  two  weeks, 
perhaps  till  the  monsoon  is  over,  In  the  latter  case  I  am  not  able 
to  say  what  I  shall  do,  or  which  course  I  shall  take. 

As  you  may  suppose,  this  has  been  a  good  deal  of  a  trial  to  me. 
....  Besides,  there  has  been  the  disappointment  of  being  so  long 
delayed  ;  the  fear  lest  you  and  Dr.  Hepburn  should  become  anxious 
about  me  ;  the  fear  lest  inconvenience  should  arise  to  our  mission 
from  my  detention,  &c.  And  yet  with  all  these  drawbacks,  per- 
haps I  ought  to  say  through  all  these,  I  have  scarcely  ever  spent 
a  time  so  profitably  to  myself.  Being  alone,  at  times  in  danger, 
and  in  trial  and  temptation,  I  have  been  obliged  to  flee  "  unto  the 
rock,  that  is  higher  than  I ;"  to  examine  more  carefully  the  book 
and  the  ways  of  God's  providence ;  to  commune  with  mine  own 
heart  in  solitude ;  and  to  learn  and  practise  patience,  submission, 
and  the  casting  of  myself,  my  friends,  and  the  interests  of  the 
church  on  God.  I  find  myself  a  slow  scholar,  and  too  often  am 
like  a  "  bullock  unaccustomed  to  the  yoke,"  yet  I  think  I  have 
already  found  that  "  it  is  good  for  a  man  that  he  bear  the  yoke  in 
his  youth."  And  so  fully  am  I  persuaded,  that  all  these  things 
shall  yet  work  together  for  good,  both  to  myself  and  the  interests 
of  the  church  as  connected  with  our  mission,  that  I  would  not  if 
I  might  have  them  otherwise. 

Few  reflections  are  more  consoling  to  a  Christian  than  this, 
that  when  he  has  diligently  used  all  the  means  in  his  power  to 
serve  his  master,  he  may  safely  leave  the  result  with  him,  who 
overrules  all  things  for  his  own  glory.  I  should  feel  very  unhappy 
at  present,  were  it  not  for  the  belief  in  the  doctrine  of  an  overruling 
providence,  which  attends  to  all  things,  and  without  whose  dis- 
posal no  breeze  can  blow,  no  current  run,  and  no  disappointment 
occur.  Whatever  happens,  He,  who  is  "  the  Head  of  the 
church."  will  take  care  of  the  honor  and  glory  of  his  own  name, 
and  we  may  well  be  satisfied  with  what  he  does,  even  though  he 


160  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

should  not  let  us  now  know  what  his  purposes  are.     Hereafter  we 

shall  know 

Your  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Manila,  September  1st,  1842. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

.  .  .  When  my  journal  comes  to  hand,  which  I  hope  it  will  before 
very  long,  you  will  have  a  fuller  account  of  the  various  adven- 
tures and  hair-breadth  escapes,  of  the  voyage  from  Macao  to  this 
place.  It  is  rough  and  uncouth  in  many  ways,  but  it  has  been  a 
companion  to  me  in  loneliness  and  in  dangers,  and  in  pleasures. 
It  made  me  think  of  home  and  of  friends  when  the  storm  howled 
around  me,  and  the  billows  tossed  our  ship  as  if  they  would  over- 
whelm her  and  us  in  the  black  gulf  beneath  us.  It  made  me 
think  of  home,  too,  in  the  calm  sunset  hour  at  sea,  and  it  brought 
the  tears  to  my  eyes  more  than  once,  as  the  quiet  hours  of  the 
Saturday  and  the  Sabbath  closed  around  me.  I  have  laughed 
over  some  of  its  little  tales,  and  wept  over  others,  and  insensibly  it 
grew  like  a  friend  in  whose  welfare  I  was  deeply  interested,  and 
when  I  sat  in  my  silent  cabin  and  was  sorrowful  that  I  had  no 
friend  to  feel  for  me,  or  sympathize  with  me  in  my  solitude,  I 
laid  my  hand  upon  its  pages,  and  said,  wait  awhile ;  when  she  to 
whom  it  is  addressed  has  read  it,  I  shall  lack  no  sympathy,  and 
the  very  anticipation  relieved  me.  Thus,  though  in  itself  it  has 
small  merit,  yet  its  associations  and  nameless  influences  give  it  a 
value  in  my  eyes,  that  I  trust  will  not  be  wholly  wanting  with 
you. 

The  houses  here  cover  a  great  extent  of  ground,  and  are  two 
stories  high  ;  the  ground  floor  is  used  for  offices,  storage,  servants' 
rooms,  stables,  (fee.,  and  the  people  live  on  the  second  floor.  A 
verandah  from  four  to  six  feet  wide  runs  all  round  the  second  story 
of  the  house ;  about  four  feet  of  the  verandah  from  the  floor  is 
boarded  up,  and  the  rest  up  to  the  eaves  of  the  roof  is  occupied  by 
sliding  frames,  which  are  glazed,  if  I  may  use  that  word,  with 
mother-of-pearl  shells,  instead  of  glass.  The  shells  are  cut  into 
pieces  about  three  inches  square,  and  being  semi-transparent,  ad- 
mit abundance  of  light,  even  when  the  verandah  is  all  closed  up. 
Glass  windows  are  not  used  at  all,  and  as  there  is  no  winter  here, 
there  are  neither  stoves  nor  fireplaces.  Just  before  my  window 
there  are  two  or  three  plantain  trees,  shooting  up  their  broad  leaves. 
One  of  the  leaves  before  me,  I  should  say,  is  nine  feet  long,  and 
two  feet  and  a  half  broad,  of  a  beautiful  green,  and  gently  waving 
with  the  wind.  By  the  side  of  the  plantain  is  an  areka  tree,  with 
branches  of  leaves  of  a  much  darker  green,  the  branch  of  leaves 
being  about  half  as  long  as  a  single  plantain  leaf.  Half  a  dozen 
or  more  plantain  leaves  grow  from  the  top  of  a  plantain  tree,  and 
half  a  dozen  branches  of  leaves  from  the  top  of  an  areW  tree. 


VOYAGE    ON   THE    CHINA   SEA.  161 

Among  the  leaves  of  the  areka  tree,  a  couple  of  little  brown  spar- 
rows are  now  building  their  nest ;  beyond  these  are  a  few  tropical 
plants,  the  names  of  which  I  do  not  know.  By  the  side  of  the 
house,  in  front  of  my  window,  flows  a  branch  of  the  river  Pasig, 
in  which  I  see  a  custom-house  boat,  with  its  sail-cloth  awning ; 
several  bankas,  or  row-boats,  with  mat  awnings  ;  several  canoes, 
and  several  heavy  boats  for  carrying  off  cargo  to  the  ships.  On 
the  other  side  of  the  water  are  several  houses,  with  their  shell- 
glazed  verandahs,  red  tile  roofs,  and  each  house  is  surmounted  by 
a  cross  ;  while  over  the  roofs  of  the  houses  I  see  the  high  steeple 
of  the  Binondo  parish  church,  once  white,  but  now  blackened  and 
discolored  by  age,  with  grass  growing  out  of  the  cornices,  and 
several  bells  in  the  cupola.  One  of  the  houses  opposite  is  the  place 
for  depositing  cocoa-nut  wine,  where  several  large  boats  are  load- 
ing and  unloading.  This  being  a  government  monopoly,  several 
sentinels  are  keeping  guard  at  the  gates.  This  being  one  of  the 
hottest  parts  of  the  day,  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  very  few  Europeans 
are  to  be  seen  ;  but  there  are  a  number  of  native  men  about.  They 
are  very  cleanly :  dress  consists  of  a  pair  of  trowsers  and  a  shirt, 
which  hangs  outside,  and  either  a  handkerchief  or  a  hat  on  the 
head.  They  use  a  variety  of  colors  for  shirts  and  trowsers,  but 
always  very  clean.  .  .  . 

Yours  most  affectionately, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Manila,  September  8th,  1842. 
REV.  THOMAS  W.  KERR — 

MY  DEAR  COUSIN  : —  ....  My  situation  here  is  as  pleasant 
as  need  be,  except  that  I  have  nothing  to  do  ;  which,  as  you  proba- 
bly know,  is  hard  work.  This  is  the  rainy  season  in  the  Phillip- 
ine  islands,  and  though  it  does  not  rain  all  the  time,  yet  it  does 
rain  every  day.  Consequently,  the  roads  are  in  a  wretched  state, 
and  one  can  hardly  go  out  at  all.  The  merchants  with  whom  I 
am  staying,  are  very  polite  and  friendly  ;  but  this  is  their  very  bu- 
siest season,  and  of  course  I  cannot  expect  them  to  leave  their 
business  to  attend  to  me.  Nor  indeed,  if  they  were  to  leave  it, 
could  they  do  anything  more  for  me  than  they  do.  But,  dear  me  ! 
what  am  I  writing  ?  The  fact  is,  I  have  a  touch  of  the  blues  this 
morning,  and  am  forgetting  that  I  live  like  a  prince  here.  This  is 
a  delightful  country ;  a  perpetual  spring  prevails,  and  the  richest 
fruits  are  found  in  abundance.  I  feast  every  day  on  oranges, 
plantains,  mangoes,  custard  apples,  guavas,  lancones,  &c. 

The  islands  are  under  the  government  of  the  Spaniards,  but  the 
mass  of  the  population  are  Malays.  They  are  a  very  cleanly  peo- 
ple. I  have  never  seen  any  more  so,  and  when  once  you  get  used" 
to  the  color,  which  is  very  much  like  that  of  our  Indians,  they  are 
tolerably  good-looking.  They  are  all  Roman  Catholics,  and  very 
much  attached  to  their  religion,  but  withal  very  superstitious,  and 


162  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.    LOVVRIE. 

exceedingly  ignorant.  A  beautiful  custom,  if  it  were  only  scrip- 
tural ancf  sincere,  neither  of  which  is  the  case,  prevails  here  among 
the  people,  as  in  all  Roman  Catholic  countries.  At  twilight  the 
church  Dells  sound,  everybody  stops,  and  the  streets  which  but  a 
moment  before  were  vocal  with  the  rattling  of  carriages,  and  the 
hiiin  of  a  thousand  voices,  become  silent  as  a  church.  Each  one 
repeats  an  Ave  Maria;  again  the  bells  sound, .and  all  move  on  as 
before.  I  have  sometimes  in  the  evening  been  startled  from  a 
reverie,  by  the  sudden  stillness,  and  on  looking  out,  have  seen  the 
streets  crowded  with  motionless  forms ;  which,  in  a  few  moments, 
reclined  their  business  as  noisily  as  ever.  But  it  is  all  a  mere  form, 
ami  has  little  or  no  influence  on  the  heart.  The  priests  are  very 
bigoted,  and  the  Protestants  residing  on  the  island  are  not  allowed 
to  have  Divine  service  on  the  Sabbath,  though  no  objections  would 
be  made  to  their  having  a  grand  ball  on  that  day.  The  Sabbath 
is  the  great  day  for  visiting  and  riding  out,  both  here  and  in  In- 
dia, and  in  China.  Oh,  how  I  long  sometimes  for  our  quiet,  hal- 
lowed Sabbath  days  at  home. 

Farewell.     Pray  for  me.     You  have  but  little  idea,  at  home, 
of  the  spiritual  trials  and  privations  of  a  missionary. 
Your  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Manila,  Sept.  14th,  1842. 
DEAR  BROTHER — 

After  spending  about  three  weeks  in  Macao,  and  Hong  Kong, 
very  busily,  but  very  pleasantly,  and  accomplishing  all  that  seemed 
necessary  at  that  time  for  the  prosperity  of  the  mission,  a  rather 
more  than  usually  favorable  opportunity  of  proceeding  to  Singa- 
pore was  offered,  which  it  seemed  proper  that  1  should  embrace. 
It  was  a  clipper  bark,  built  near  Calcutta,  expressly  for  the  trade 
between  India  and  China,  and  intended  to  run  up  and  down  the 
China  Sea,  both  with  and  against  the  monsoons.  It  is  probably 
known  to  most  persons,  that  the  monsoons  are  periodical  winds 
that  prevail  in  the  Bay  of  Bengal,  and  among  the  islands  that 
separate  the  Pacific  and  the  Indian  Oceans.  Those  that  prevail 
in  the  China  Sea,  are  called  the  North-east  and  South-west  mon- 
soons. The  north-east  monsoon  is  commonly  preceded  by  about 
a  month  of  variable  winds  and  frequent  calms,  and  commences 
blowing  from  the  north-east  steadily  in  October.  It  continues  till 
some  time  in  April ;  then  follows  nearly  a  month  of  variable  winds 
and  calms,  and  about  the  first  of  May  the  south-west  monsoon 
sets  in,  blowing  till  the  middle  or  end  of  September,  and  sometimes 
to  the  middle  of  October.  This  is  the  general  division  ;  but  these 
winds  are  subject  to  great  irregularity  in  their  commencement  and 
termination.  For  example ;  when  we  went  up  the  China  Sea  in 
May,  in  the  Huntress,  we  expected  to  have  had  the  south-west 
monsoon  steadily,  though  gently,  in  our  favor ;  but,  to  our  great 


LETTERS.  163 

disappointment,  experienced  calms  and  light  and  variable  winds 
during  the  whole  of  that  month.  It  was  formerly  thought  useless 
for  vessels  to  attempt  a  passage  through  the  China  Sea,  against 
either  of  the  monsoons,  but  of  late  years  fast-sailing  vessels,  and 
particularly  clippers,  and  clipper-built  ships,  have  very  frequently 
succeeded  in  making  a  passage  in  the  course  of  from  twenty-five 
to  thirty-five  and  forty  days.  In  the  year  1841,  several  vessels 
passed  down  the  China  Sea,  from  Macao  to  Singapore,  in  the 
months  of  June,  July,  and  August,  without  any  difficulty.  Among 
others,  the  captain  of  the  Sea  Queen,  in  which  I  took  my  pas- 
sage, who  was  then  chief  mate  of  another  vessel,  had  made  the 
passage  in  thirty  days,  with  delightful  weather  the  whole  time. 

The  prospect  of  another  month  at  sea,  after  having  just  finished 
a  four  months'  voyage,  was  not  very  pleasant ;  but  the  instructions 
of  the  Committee  and  the  state  of  the  mission  seemed  to  require 
it,  and  full  of  hope,  and  anticipating  a  pleasant  voyage,  and  safe 
arrival  at  Singapore,  I  embarked  in  the  Sea  Queen,  June  18. 
Our  progress  for  two  or  three  weeks,  though  slow,  was  still  toler- 
ably good;  and  as  nothing  else  of  special  interest  occurred  to 
occupy  my  attention,  I  had  an  opportunity  of  learning  something 
of  the  character  and  regulations  of  a  "country  ship."  This  is  a 
term  applied,  not  to  vessels  belonging  to  the  natives  of  these 
countries,  but  to  vessels  built  in  the  East  Indies,  owned  and  com- 
manded by  Europeans,  and  manned  by  Hindus  or  Malays.  The 
greater  part  of  them  are  built  in  India,  of  the  teak,  and  other  hard 
woods  of  that  country,  and  their  cordage  is  made  of  the  fibres  of 
the  husk  of  the  cocoa-nut.  They  trade  principally  between  India 
and  China,  touching,  however,  at  the  intermediate  ports.  They 
carry  rice,  opium,  and  other  articles  to  China,  and  return  with 
teas,  silks,  Chinese  manufactures,  and  the  like,  to  India ;  fre- 
quently making  two,  and  occasionally  three  voyages  in  a  year. . . . 

It  is  of  course  necessary  for  the  officers  to  acquire  some  knowl- 
edge of  the  Bengali  language,  as  the  crew  cannot  be  expected  to 
learn  English.  A  very  small  smattering,  however,  commonly 
serves  their  purpose,  consisting  simply  of  the  nautical  terms  neces- 
sary for  the  regulation  of  the  ship :  (barra  bras,  mainbrace  ;  garva 
bras,  topsail-brace ;  deman,  sheet ;  stringee,  clewline ;  bobber^ 
weather;  barraka,  sea,  &c.)  The  serang  and  tindals  are  sup- 
posed to  know  so  much  of  what  is  needful,  for  the  management 
of  the  ship,  as  to  require  but  little  direction  from  the  higher 
officers 

For  ten  days  we  made  tolerably  good  progress ;  we  then  had  a 
week  of  calms.  Nothing  is  more  trying  at  sea  than  a  calm :  yet 
it  is  true  that  scarcely  any  sight  is  so  beautiful  as  that  of  the  ocean 
in  a  perfect  calm, — provided  it  does  not  last  too  long.  The  water 
then  becomes  of  a  blue  color,  as  beautiful  as  that  of  a  field  of  flax 
in  bloom  :  a  few  light  or  golden  clouds  float  in  the  sky,  or  mirror 
themselves  in  the  sea:  while  all  around  the  surface  of  the  water 
is  calm,  and  smooth  as  glass,  varied  only  by  a  heaving,  as  gentle 


MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

as  that  of  a  sleeping  infant's  bosom.  Now  and  then  a  faint  light 
air  causes  a  gentle  simmer  or  a  ripple  on  the  water,  like  the  smile 
on  an  infant's  face  when  dreams  are  pleasant  in  its  soul.  Espe- 
cially is  the  sight  beautiful  in  the  evening,  when  the  sun's  last 
rays  are  reflected  from  the  resplendent  wave,  and  a  sea  of  liquid 
gold  seems  to  mingle  with  the  bending  heavens.  I  have  sat  by 
the  ship's  side  for  hours,  gazing  around,  and  mentally  exclaim- 
ing: No  earthly  painter,  and  no  earthly  pencil,  ever  drew  such  gor- 
geous, such  delicate,  and  such  beautiful  scenes  as  these,  and  yet, 
they  are  but  transient  reflections  of  that  glorious  place,  where, 
though  "  there  is  no  more  sea,"  such  as  here  we  cross,  yet  there  is 
a  "  sea  of  glass,  clear  as  crystal,"  and  that  glass  not  frail  and  per- 
ishable as  ours;  but  "pure  gold,  transparent  as  glass."  Surely 
to  stand  on  that  sea  of  glass,  having  the  harps  of  God,  and  to 
sing  the  song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb,  will  amply  repay  a  few 
years  of  toil,  and  disappointment,  and  suffering,  on  the  restless  sea 
of  life ! 

Yet,  beautiful  as  were  many  of  the  scenes  witnessed  in  the 
calms,  nothing  is  more  wearisome,  and  we  were  soon  so  tired  of 
them,  that  we  wished  for  any  other  kind  of  weather.  The  S.  W. 
monsoon  soon  recommenced,  and  blew  very  strongly.  The  wea- 
ther became  unsettled,  and  during  the  course  of  a  month,  we  had 
almost  constant  gales,  during  which  we  lost  our  maintop-gallant- 
mast,  and  had  so  many  sails  torn  by  the  wind,  that  sometimes  we 
had  not  a  topsail  to  spread.  In  addition  to  the  strong  wind  and 
heavy  sea,  (for  three  weeks  we  had  not  a  dry  deck  to  walk  upon, 
on  account  of  the  constant  breaking  of  the  sea  over  it,)  we  were 
exceedingly  embarrassed  by  adverse  currents.  Several  days,  when 
we  thought  we  had  made  tolerably  good  progress  to  the  south- 
west, we  found,  by  observations,  that  we  had  actually  been  carried 
ten  and  twenty  miles  to  the  north-east.  If  our  ship  had  not  been 
almost  new,  she  could  scarcely  have  sustained  the  strain  that  came 
upon  her.  As  it  was,  it  was  necessary  to  have  the  men  at,  the 
pumps  two  or  three  times  every  day.  As  may  be  supposed,  in 
such  circumstances,  our  progress  was  exceedingly  slow.  We  fre- 
quently lost  as  much  in  one  day 'as  we  had  gained  in  three  or 
four;  and  after  beating  about  for  thirty-one  days,  we  found  our- 
selves, August  11,  only  one  hundred  miles  nearer  Singapore  than 
on  the  10th  of  July  preceding 

It  has  often  been  said,  and  with  truth,  that  no  trial  which  a 
missionary  experiences,  is  greater  than  that  of  being  deprived  of 
the  advantages  of  Christian  society,  and  of  the  privileges  of  the 
sanctuary.  Such  I  found  to  be  the  case ;  and  it  was  difficult  at 
times  to  refrain  from  tears,  when  the  Sabbath  came  round,  and  the 
recollection  of  its  peaceful  and  hallowed  scenes  at  home  rose  be- 
fore me,  in  contrast  with  the  solitude  of  the  dark  and  foam-crested 
waves,  where,  alone,  I  had  no  fellow-Christian  with  whom  to  wor- 
ship God.  Truly,  "  Blessed  are  they  that  dwell  in  thy  house,  they 
will  be  still  praising  thee."  But  it  was  pleasant  to  think,  and  to 


SHIPWRECK   ON    THE    HARMONY.  165 

experience  that  those  who  enjoy  these  external  privileges,  do  not 
monopolize  all  the  blessing.  "  Blessed  is  the  man  whose  strength 
is  in  thee,  in  whose  heart  are  the  ways  of  them."  .... 

Finding  at  last  that  we  could  not  make  head  against  the  cur- 
rents, and  that,  our  provisions  were  nearly  exhausted,  we  very  re- 
luctantly turned  about,  and  shaped  our  course  for  Manila,  where 
we  arrived  safely,  August  3d,  sixty-six  days  after  leaving  Macao. 
And  yet,  great  as  was  our  disappointment,  we  found  abundant 
cause  for  gratitude.  The  bad  weather  we  had  experienced  had 
extended  over  a  large  part  of  the  China  Sea.  An  English  vessel 
had  been  wrecked,  not  far  from  ours.  Her  captain  and  mate  were 
drowned,  and  the  crew  obliged  to  go  to  Manila,  in  their  boats. 
Several  other  vessels  had  been  driven  back  with  damage,  and  al- 
most all  the  vessels  in  Manila  Bay  had  dragged  their  anchors, 
while  one  or  two  of  them  were  driven  on  shore.  Yet  we  had  es- 
caped without  any  serious  injury. 

I  arrived  at  Manila  a  perfect  stranger,  not  knowing  even  the 
name  of  a  single  person  here.  There  were  no  Protestant  mission- 
aries in  the  Phillipine  Islands,  and  Manila  is  almost  the  only  port 
from  Chusan  in  China  to  Calcutta  in  India,  where  I  could  not 
have  found  persons  whom  I  knew,  or  with  whom,  from  similarity 
of  pursuits,  I  could  not  speedily  have  formed  an  acquaintance. 
Yet  I  had  not  been  ashore  an  hour,  before  I  found  myself  most 
perfectly  at  home  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Moore,  a  merchant  from 
Boston,  and  at  present  acting  as  United  States  vice-consul. 

Such,  dear  brother,  is  my  story.  It  may  give  you  an  idea  of 
some  of  the  difficulties  of  the  navigation  of  the  China  Sea,  and 
lead  you  to  unite  your  thanks  with  mine  for  the  goodness  of  God 

which  has  so  manifestly  attended  me 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


SHIPWRECK    ON    THE    HARMONY. 

Having  engaged  a  passage  from  Manila  to  Singapore  in  the 
Harmony,  I  went  on  board  with  the  captain  about  noon,  Septem- 
ber 18,  1842.  and  found  Messrs.  M.  and  G.,  my  two  fellow-passen- 
gers, already  there.  It  was  quite  calm,  and  we  did  not  start  till 
eight  o'clock,  p.  M.,  when  a  fine  breeze  sprang  up,  and  as  the 
moon  was  shining  brightly,  we  got  under  weigh,  set  studding-sails 
alow  and  aloft,  and  went  off  in  full  sail.  The  ship  was  deeply 
laden  with  more  than  six  hundred  tons  of  sugar,  and  drew  nine- 
teen feet  of  water.  She  was  counted  one  of  the  fastest  sailing 
British  merchantmen  in  the  Chinese  waters  ;  but  with  such  a 
cargo  the  captain  feared  she  would  not  sail  as  well  as  usual. 
However,  she  kept  up  with  the  Cecilia,  a  swift  English  bark,  and 
not  near  so  deeply  laden.  It  was  a  lovely  night,  and  everything 
looked  so  favorable  that  we  were  all  in  high  spirits,  and  had  great 


166  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

hopes  of  a  speedy  voyage.  By  daylight  next  morning*  we  were 
fifteen  or  twenty  miles  outside  of  Corregidor,  which  was  much 
better  success  than  we  had  allowed  ourselves  to  anticipate. 

It  was  quite  calm  during  Monday  morning ;  but  in  the  afternoon 
a  breeze  sprang  up.  The  Cecilia  had  gone  ahead  of  us;  but 
when  this  breeze  fairly  set  in  we  caught  up  with  her,  and  in  three 
or  four  hours  had  left  her  five  miles  astern.  This  settled  the  point 
of  the  Harmony's  sailing,  and  gave  us  great  hopes  of  her  future 
performances.  The  breeze  gradually  increased  to  a  gale,  and  on 
Wednesday  morning  we  were  under  double-reefed  topsails,  with 
a  tremendous  sea  astern.  I  was  strongly  reminded  of  the  waves 
in  a  gale  o'ff  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The  vessel  being  very 
deeply  laden,  shipped  a  great  deal  of  water:  immense  waves  piled 
themselves  up  several  feet  above  the  bulwarks,  and  came  tumbling 
in  on  deck,  and  the  cabin  was  flooded  with  water  several  times. 
I  was  standing  by  the  cabin  door  once,  when  a  sea  came  over  the 
ship's  side,  and  before  it  was  possible  to  escape,  the  water  was  up 
over  my  knees.  The  gale  increased  to  a  storm  by  noun,  (Wed- 
nesday,) and  though  we  were  going  right  before  it,  its  violence 
was  so  great  that  we  were  at  last  obliged  to  lie  to,  under  a  close- 
reefed  main-topsail,  and  foretopmast-staysail.  Being  from  the 
east,  it  had  helped  us  on  wonderfully  in  our  course. 

The  gale  moderated  during  the  night,  and  the  sun  shone  out 
the  next  day.  though  the  sea  continued  rough.  Friday  was  a 
pleasant  day ;  and  my  sea-sickness  being  now  over,  everything 
was  agreeable.  Being  now  pretty  well  acquainted  with  the  ship, 
the  comparisons  I  made  between  her  and  the  Sea  Queen,  in  which 
my  last  voyage  was  made,  were  by  no  means  favorable  to  the  lat- 
ter. The  Harmony  was  a  superior  vessel  in  every  respect,  except 
that  her  cabins,  though  all  on  deck,  were  not  so  well  ventilated 
as  those  of  the  Sea  Queen.  But  the  masts,  rigging,  and  sails  of  the 
Harmony  were  stronger  and  neater.  She  was  a  better  sailer ;  her 
crew  were  Englishmen,  and  her  steward  (an  important  considera- 
tion to  a  passenger,)  though  by  no  means  a  neat,  driving  fellow, 
was  so  far  superior  to  the  filthy  butler  of  the  Sea  Q,ueen.  that  the 
two  should  not.  be  named  on  the  same  day  There  were  a  few 
cockroaches,  but  no  ants  or  centipedes.  Her  captain  was  a  stout, 
hearty,  good-humored  Scotchman,  with  somewhat  of  the  Scotch 
pronunciation  and  accent.  He  was  an  intelligent  and  independent 
man,  a  perfect  sailor,  full  of  sailor  phrases,  and  as  fond  of  his  ship 
as  if  she  were  his  wife.  He  was  kind  and  yet  strict  with  his  men, 
and  therefore  liked  and  obeyed  by  them.  He  used  no  profane 
language,  (certainly  never  in  my  presence.)  and  was  very  atten- 
tive to  the  wants  of  his  passengers. 

*  We  sailed  on  Sabbath,  September  18th.  It  was  Manila  Saturday,  and  I  ob- 
Berved  Monday,  September  19th,  as  Sabbath.  The  day  before  had  been  observed  as 
Sabbath  by  the  men.  who  had  nothing  to  do  except  to  get  the  ship  under  wei<rh  in  the 
evening.  As  we  sailed  on  Sabbath  the  "  morning"  above  mentioned  was  "Monday 
morning. 


VOYAGE    AND    SHIT  WRECK    IN   THE    HARMONY.  167 

Saturday,  September  24,  was  a  cloudy  day,  wind  from  the  west, 
and  our  course  nearly  south.  The  captain  could  not  get  an  ob- 
servation of  the  sun,  but,  by  his  reckoning,  we  were  at  noon  in  lat. 
11  deg.  53  min.  N.,  and  long.  114  deg.  20  min.  E.  This  was  a 
very  unpleasant  position,  being  but  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  north 
of  the  North  Danger — a  small  island,  with  not  a  tree  on  it,  and  a 
reef  all  around,  which  marks  the  north-western  limit  of  the  dan- 
gerous archipelago  of  shoals  in  the  China  Sea.  Accordingly,  every 
effort  was  made  to  get  to  the  westward,  but  the  wind  now  became 
unsteady,  veering  about  so  much,  that  it  was  hardly  possible  to 
keep  the  ship  on  any  course,  except  to.  the  north-east,  which  was 
directly  contrary  to  the  course  we  wished  to  go. 

Sabbath  morning  (Sept.  25)  was  dark,  cloudy,  and  squally : 
there  was  a  heavy  sea,  and  a  rolling  ship,  with  frequent  showers, 
a  hazy  atmosphere,  and  exceedingly  baffling  winds.  About  ten 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  wind  became  steady  at  S.  W. ;  ship  went  off 
W.N.  W.  five  or  six  miles  an  hour,  under  double-reefed-topsails,  and 
the  weather  began  to  look  less  threatening.  At  noon  the  captain 
came  down  and  changed  his  wet  clothes,  being  the  third  time 
that  day.  and  said  the  prospects  were  more  favorable.  We  had 
tiffin,'  and  he  remarked  incidentally,  that  he  had  just  been  sending 
men  aloft,  but  no  dangers  were  to  be  seen,  as  the  sea  was  clear  on 
all  sides.  We  were  all  in  excellent  spirits,  and  amused  ourselves 
with  conjectures  as  to  the  probable  length  of  our  voyage.  After 
tiffin  the  captain  took  his  segar  and  went  on  deck,  and  the  pas- 
sengers exchanged  a  few  more  sentences  as  to  the  time  of  arrival 
at  Singapore,  and  were  about  quietly  reclining  on  the  sofas  to 
read,  when  the  ship  struck  against  some  obstacle  with  tremendous 
violence.  It  impeded  her  onward  motion  in  a  moment.  We 
started  to  our  feet ;  again  she  struck,  and  again  she  reeled  like  a 
drunken  man.  The  deck  quivered  beneath  our  feet ;  and  on  going 
out  we  found  the  men  running  about,  the  officers  giving  their  or- 
ders, and  the  terrified  steward  groaning  and  wringing  his  hands 
at  the  cabin  door.  So  violent  were  the  strokes,  that  I  was  appre- 
hensive of  the  ship  being  broken  to  pieces,  and  ran  to  get  my  life- 
preserver.  By  the  time  I  had  it  half  inflated,  the  ship  had  beaten 
over  the  shoal,  and  I  went  up  on  the  poop-deck.  The  captain 
had  changed  the  ship's  course,  and  I  found  him  giving  his  orders, 
and  pacing  the  deck  in  great  agitation.  The  shock  had  been  so 
sudden  and  unexpected,  that  he,  as  well  as  every  one  else,  was 
taken  completely  by  surprise.  I  had  scarcely  time  to  speak  to 
him.  or  to  reply  to  spine  observation  that  he  made  to  me,  when 
the  vessel  struck  again  with  even  greater  violence.  The  sea  was 
boiling  in  short  uneasy  waves  on  all  sides,  and  we  seemed  to  be 
above  some  deeply  sunken  rock,  on  which  the  ship's  bottom  was 
dashed  every  time  she  sunk  in  the  hollow  of  the  waves.  Through 
the'violence  of  the  blows,  large  pieces  of  her  keel  were  broken  off, 
and  rose  to  the  surface ;  and  the  copper  was  torn  off  in  masses 
from  her  bottom.  At  one  time  we  could  both  see  and  feel  the 


168  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

middle  of  the  ship  rising  up,  while  her  stem  and  stern  sank  down. 
In  sailor's  phrase,  her  "back  was  broken,"  and  for  a  moment  I 
fully  expected  she  would  break  in  two. 

It  was  an  awful  time:  a  strong  wind;  a  heavy  rain  falling-, 
and  an  unquiet  and  restless  sea  ;  yet  there  were  no  breakers  and 
no  discolored  waters — the  usual  signs  of  a  shoal, — and  although 
in  the  intervals  of  rain  we  could  see  at  least  ten  miles  on  every 
side,  yet  there  was  neither  island,  rock  nor  breakers  in  sight :  nor 
any  other  sign  of  danger.  Of  this  I  am  certain,  for  the  captain 
requested  me  to  look  round  and  see ;  nay  even  when  we  were 
upon  the  shoal  we  could  see  nothing,  for  I  looked  over  the  ship's 
side  when  she  was  striking  most  heavily,  and  nothing  was  visi- 
ble beneath  the  dark  waters.  Such  shocks  must  be  as  dreadful 
as  those  of  an  earthquake,  perhaps  more  so.  They  were  the 
blows  of  an  unseen  enemy,  and  we  could  not  tell  at  what  mo- 
ment we  might  receive  another  which  should  send  us  at  once  to 
the  bottom. 

The  pumps  were  immediately  manned,  and  the  water  that 
came  up  tasted  sweet ;  it  had  already  reached  the  sugar  in  the 
hold.  On  sounding  the  well  three  feet  of  water  was  found.  The 
four  pumps  were  kept  constantly  going,  the  main  hatchway 
opened  and  sugar  thrown  overboard  to  lighten  the  vessel,  but  this 
was  soon  abandoned.  Some  of  the  men  were  employed  in  getting 
the  boats  ready  in  case  of  emergency ;  we  packed  up  a  few 
clothes  and  valuables  in  as  small  a  compass  as  possible,  and 
waited  in  suspense  for  the  result.  As  you  may  well  imagine,  I  was 
on  my  knees  more  «1«an  once.  It  was  a  solemn  time :  but  my 
mind  was  kept  in  a  Im  and  composed  frame. 

We  struck  about  half-past  one,  p.  M.  In  less  than  an«hour  the 
vessel  had  three  feet  of  water  in  the  hold.  In  two  hours  more  it 
had  increased  to  six  feet ;  in  less  than  another  hour  there  was 
seven,  and  in  twenty  minutes  more  seven  feet  and  six  inches  ;  and 
this  though  the  four  pumps  were  kept  constantly  going,  and  all 
drawing  well.  It  was  now  near  five  o'clock,  p.  M.,  and  it  being 
evident  that  the  ship  must  sink,  the  pumps  were  abandoned  and 
the  boats  got  ready.  It  was  very  providentially  ordered  for  us 
that  the  masts  had  not  fallen  when  the  ship  struck  so  violently, 
as,  in  that  case,  it  would  have  been  difficult  to  get  the  long  boat 
out.  It  was  after  dark,  perhaps  nearly  seven  o'clock,  when  the 
boats  were  ready,  and  we  found  it  a  work  of  difficulty  and  danger 
to  get  into  them;  for  with  the  heavy  sea  running  they  rose  and  fell 
more  than  ten  feet  every  minute.  It  was  arranged  that  twenty- 
one,  including  the  captain  and  passengers,  should  go  in  the  long 
boat,  and  the  mate  and  seven  men  in  the  jolly  boat.  We  man- 
aged to  get  in  abou,  ,even  o'clock,  and  pushed  off  from  the  ship. 
She  was  then  settlin  ,  fast  in  the  water,  which  was  already  nearly 
on  a  level  with  her  deck.  The  lights  were  left  burning  in  her  cabin, 
and  the  noble  ship,  which  on  that  very  day  one  year  before  com- 
menced her  first  voyage,  was  left  a  shattered,  sinking  wreck.  We 


SHIPWRECK    OP    THE    HARMONY.  169 

wanted  to  see  her  go  down,  but  as  the  sea  was  rolling  heavily, 
wind  high,  and  a  drenching  rain  falling,  it  was  neither  comforta- 
ble nor  safe  to  stay  by  her,  and  we  kept  the  boats  before  the  sea 
by  means  of  small  pieces  of  canvass.  They  had  four  oars  in  the 
jolly  boat,  and  we  had  had  as  many,  but  three  of  them  were 
broken  in  keeping  the  boat  from  dashing  against  the  ship's  side  : 
thus  we  found  ourselves  in  the  open  sea,  four  hundred  miles  from 
land,  with  only  a  single  oar.  A  heavy  rain  fell  almost  constantly 
till  midnight,  from  which  we  could  have  no  protection,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  we  were  drenched  with  the  rain  and  the  spray,  which 
every  now  and  then  dashed  over  us.  The  boat,  with  so  many 
persons  in,  was  very  deep  in  the  water ;  and  to  add  to  our  discom- 
fort and  apprehensions,  leaked  a  good  deal,  so  that  one  person 
was  constantly  employed  in  bailing  her  out.  About  midnight  the 
wind  and  sea  abated  somewhat,  the  clouds  dispersed  a  little,  the 
moon  dimly  glimmered  in  the  sky,  and  we  kept  on  slowly  to  the 
north.  Owing  to  the  weather  1  had  slept  almost  none  the  night 
before,  and  exhausted  with  want  of  sleep,  anxiety  and  fatigue,  I 
managed  to  rest  a  little  towards  morning,  though  how  or  where 
it  would  be  hard  to  say. 

On  Monday  we  rigged  a  couple  of  masts,  and  with  a  royal  stud- 
ding-sail, and  main-skysail,  which  had  been  thrown  into  the  boat, 
we  mustered  a  very  respectable  foresail  and  mainsail,  using  our 
whole  oar,  and  one  of  the  broken  oars  for  yards.  The  boat  was 
then  lightened,  by  throwing  overboard  everything  that  could  pos- 
sibly be  spared  ;  the  baggage  and  provisions  were  packed  as  neat- 
ly as  possible,  and  a  man  and  boy  taken  j&  from  the  jolly  boat, 
which  made  our  whole  number  nineteen  en  and  four  boys ;  a 
large  number  for  a  boat  only  twenty-one  feet  long,  and  eight  feet 
broad.  The  provisions  were  then  examined,  and  we  found  there 
was  bread'  enough  to  last  a  week  or  ten  days,  but  that  we  had  a 
very  small  quantity  of  water.  There  could  not  have  been  more 
than  eight  or  ten  gallons.  This  was  a  cause  of  no  little  anxiety, 
for  by  our  calculations  we  could  not  be  less  than  four  hundred 
miles  from  Manila,  (whither  we  now  directed  our  course,)  and  at 
that  season  of  the  year,  calms,  and  even  head  winds,  which  would 
make  our  passage  long,  were  not  unlikely  to  occur.  Accordingly 
all  hands  were  put  on  an  allowance  of  half  a  pint  of  water  daily, 
and  bread  in  moderation.  The  water  was  served  out  twice  a  day 
in  a  cup  which  held  a  gill,  and  all  drank  out  of  the  same  cup. 
I  had  put  a  little  keg  of  crackers  on  board,  which  kept  dry  when 
all  the  rest  were  wet  with  rain  and  salt  water,  and  also  a  small 
box  of  raisins,  which  proved  very  acceptable.  We  had  a  few 
cheese  and  some  cocoa-nuts,  the  milk  of  which  served  us  for  two 
days,  thus  making  a  great  saving  in  our  litt?  stock  of  water. 

This  (Monday)  was  a  tolerably  pleasant  tay.  Pieces  of  can- 
vass were  nailed  round  the  sides  of  the  boat  to  keep  out  the  spray, 
and  having  a  fair  light  wind,  we  made  some  progress  on  our 
course.  The  sun  shone  out  brightly  in  the  afternoon,  and  dried 


170  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

our  wet  clothes,  and  most  of  us  slept  well  that  night.     We  began 
to  cherish  hopes  of  arriving  at  some  land  ere  long. 

Tuesday  was  a  terrible  day.  Nol  a  cloud  in  the  sky ;  scarcely 
a  breath  of  wind,  and  the  hot  sun  of  the  torrid  zone  beating  full 
lr>  »n  us  There  was  but  one  umbrella  in  the  boat,  and  we  could 
not  liont  an  awning  :  but  being  sunburnt,  and  even  blistered,  was 
ih,.  1,-ast  evil.  Half  a  pint  of  water  on  such  a  day,  when  tanta- 
lized by  the  sight  of  an  ocean  of  water,  so  clear  but  so  salt,  was  a 
small  allowance,  and  I  almost  prayed  to  be  swallowed  up  in  the 
raging  sea,  rather  than  be  suffered  to  linger  in  so  dreadful  a  con- 
dition! Yet  there  was  no  murmuring,  and  we  all  kept  up  our 
spirits. 

As  the  jolly  boat  sailed  much  faster  than  ours,  it  was  thought 
best  she  should  go  on  ahead.  She  could  be  of  no  service  to  us, 
nor  we  to  her,  by  keeping  company,  and  by  going  on,  she  might 
escape  danger,  and  even  find  means  of  assisting  u?.  Accordingly 
she  left  us  this  afternoon,  and  we  afterwards  regretted  deeply  that 
she  had  not  done  so  sooner.  This  night  I  slept  badly  ;  the  bag- 
gage had  been  shifted  to  put  the  boat  in  better  sailing  trim,  and 
there  was  not  room  to  place  one's  self  comfortably ;  lying  down 
was  at  any  time  out  of  the  question,  for  want  of  room.  A  fine 
favorable  breeze  sprang  up  soon  after  dark,  and  we  made  good 
progress. 

On  Wednesday  the  breeze  became  stronger,  with  a  heavy  sea. 
We  went  rapidly  on,  and  in  our  lonely  course  found  amusement  in 
watching  the  large  flocks  of  boobies  that  in  some  places  almost 
covered  the  sea.  They  came  around  us  in  great  numbers,  and 
alighted  on  the  yards,  and  even  on  the  sides  of  the  boat.  In  his 
eagerness  to  catch  one  the  boatswain  fell  overboard,  affording  us 
all  a  hearty  laugh  at  his  expense.  Several  showers  fell  near  us 
about  dark,  and  we  hoped  to  have  caught  some  water,  but  could 
not.  Slept  miserably.  In  the  part  of  the  boat  where  I  was, 
which  was  about  six  feet  by  eight  in  size,  there  were  four  persons 
to  sleep,  and  one  constantly  employed  in  bailing  out  the  water. 

Thursday  morning  commenced  with  rain,  which  soon  wet  us  to 
the  skin  ;  but  we  did  not  mind  that,  for  we  caught  several  buckets- 
full  of  water,  which,  in  the  low  ebb  of  our  water-cask,  gave  us  great 
joy  ;  and  we  ate  our  breakfast  in  high  spirits.  For  fear  of  suffer- 
ing from  thirst,  I  ate  but  little,  seldom  taking  more  'than  three 
small  crackers  a  day,  and  a  mouthful  of  cheese  with  a  bunch  of 
raisins. 

From  the  progress  we  had  made  the  night  before,  we  had  great 
hopes  of  seeing  land  either  to-day,  or  early  on  the  following,  but 
we  soon  began  to  think  of  other  things.  About  ten  o'clock  the 
wind  rose,  the  sea  ran  very  high,  and  frequent  squalls  of  wind  and 
rain  darkened  the  heavens  and  drenched  us  to  the  skin.  The 
captain  sent  the  best  helmsman  to  the  tiller,  and  sat  down  himself 
by  the  compass,  and  for  eight  long  hours  he  did  not  move  from 
his  seat.  Conversation  ceased;  and  scarcely  a  word  was  uttered 


SHIPWRECK    OF    THE    HARMONY.  171 

in  all  that  time,  except  the  orders  from  the  captain  to  the  helms- 
man, "  Port !  Port  your  helm,  quick  !  Hard  a-port !  Starboard 
now  !  Mind  your  port-helm,"  <fec.  Many  a  long-ing1,  anxious  look 
did  we  cast  before  us  to  see  if  there  were  any  signs  of  land  ;  but 
still  more  to  the  west,  to  see  if  the  gale  gave  signs  of  abating. 
But  no  !  Darker  and  darker  grew  the  heavens  over  us ;  higher 
and  higher  rose  the  sea;  louder  and  louder  still  roared  the  waves 
as  they  rushed  past  our  little  boat,  and  faster  fell  the  rain.  If  a 
single  one  of  those  waves  had  come  over  the  boat's  side,  it  would 
have  overwhelmed  and  swallowed  up  the  boat,  and  every  one  on 
board  ;  and  it  was  only  by  the  utmost  care  and  skill  that  she  was 
kept  before  them. 

Death  never  seemed  so  near  before.  An  emotion  of  sorrow 
passed  through  my  mind,  as  I  thought  of  my  friends  at  home  who 
would,  probably,  be  long  in  suspense  in  regard  to  my  fate;  and  of 
regret,  as  I  thought  of  the  work  for  which  I  had  come ;  but  for 
myself,  my  mind  was  kept  in  peace.  I  knew  in  whom  I  had  be- 
lieved, and  felt  that  He  was  able  to  save  ;  and  though  solemn  in 
the  near  prospect  of  eternity,  I  felt  no  fear,  and  had  no  regret  that 
I  had  perilled  my  life  in  such  a  cause. 

Thus  the  day  wore  away,  and  night  approached  without  any 
signs  of  more  moderate  weather.  The  wind  was  now  so  strong, 
and  the  sea  so  high,  that  it  was  with  the  utmost  danger  that  we 
could  hold  on  our  course.  Everything  was  wet,  and  we  tried  in 
vain  to  get  a  light  for  the  compass;  besides,  by  our  calculations, 
we  could  not  be  more  than  thirty  or  forty  miles  from  land  ;  and  at 
the  rate  we  were  going,  should. reach  it  about  midnight;  but  to 
attempt  to  land  in  such  a  sea,  in  the  dark,  would  be  madness  it- 
self. What  could  we  do?  Backwards,  or  sideways,  we  could  not 
go,  on  account  of  the  sea ;  to  go  forward  was  to  throw  our  lives 
away  ;  to  remain  where  we  were,  even  if  it  were  possible,  seemed 
to  be  remaining  in  the  very  jaws  of  death.  It  was,  however,  our 
only  hope,  if  hope  it  could  be  called,  and  accordingly  preparations 
were  made  for  heaving  the  boat  to.  The  foresail  was  taken  down, 
and  securely  fastened  to  the  yard;  the  largest  cord  we  could  mus- 
ter (about  thirty  fathoms)  attached  to  this  and  to  the  boat.  The 
mainsail  was  then  lowered,  and  watching  our  opportunity,  the 
foresail  was  thrown  overboard,  cord  paid  out,  and  the  boat's  head 
turned  to  the  wind.  This  last  was  a  most  perilous  operation  ;  for 
had  a  wave  struck  her  while  her  broadside  was  exposed  to  it.  all 
would  have  been  over  with  us.  The  plan,  however,  succeeded 
admirably.  The  little  foresail  being  between  the  wind  and  the 
boat,  it  served  to  break  the  force  of  the  waves ;  and  as  it  lay  flat 
on  the  water,  it  was  not  acted  on  by  the  wind ;  and  thus  served 
also  as  an  anchor  to  keep  the  boat's  head  to  the  wind.  We  then 
had  the  mainsail  hoisted  up  in  the  form  of  a  staysail,  to  keep  the 
boat  steady,  and  thus  we  were  hove  to. 

For  a  while,  the  result  was  very  uncertain.  The  wind  howled 
past  us  with  a  force  that  made  every  plank  in  the  boat  quiver ;  the 


172  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.    LOW11IE. 

rain  fell  in  torrents,  with  the  violence  of  small  hailstones,  nearly 
all  the  night ;  and  we  could  hear  the  great  waves  as  they  formed 
and  rose  away  ahead  of  us,  and  then  rushed  toward  us,  with  a 
sound  like  the  whizzing  of  an  immense  rocket.  Sometimes  they 
would  strike  us  as  if  with  a  heavy  hammer,  causing  the  boat  to 
jump  bodily  away;  and  then  again,  their  white,  foaming,  phos- 
phorescent "crests  would  be  piled  up  by  our  sides,  as  if,  the  next 
moment,  they  would  dash  in  and  overwhelm  us  in  an  instant. 
There  we  lay,  packed  together  so  closely  that  we  could  scarcely 
move ;  while  every  now  and  then,  a  dash  of  spray  came  over  us, 
covering  us  with  pale  phosphoric  sparks  that  spread  a  dim  and 
fearful  light  for  a  few  inches  around.  Oh,  it  was  a  dreadful  night ! 
There  was  distress  and  perplexity,  the  sea  and  the  waves  roaring, 
and  men's  hearts  failing  them  for  fear. 

Not  one  of  our  company,  I  will  venture  to  say,  had  any  expecta- 
tion of  seeing  the  light  of  another  day.  For  myself,  I  thought 
deliberately  of  each  and  every  member  of  our  family,  and  breathed 
a  silent  farewell  to  each  :  of  many  of  my  friends  by  name,  of  for- 
mer scenes  and  seasons :  of  various  missionary  fields,  and  offered 
prayers  for  each  and  all :  of  my  own  past  life,  and  of  the  certainty, 
for  so  it  then  seemed  to  me,  that  in  a  few  hours  I  should  enter  on 
the  untried  realities  of  which  I  had  so  often  thought.  I  know  not 
that  my  mind  was  ever  in  a  calmer  state,  or  that  I  could  more  de- 
liberately reflect  on  what  I  wished  to  fix  my  thoughts  upon  :  and 
though  I  could  not  feel  those  clear  convictions  of  my  safety  I  have 
sometimes  felt,  yet  my  faith  was  fixed  on  the  Rock  of  Ages,  and 
death  seemed  to  have  but  few  terrors  for  me.  In  such  anight,  and 
with  such  expectations,  it  was  wrong  to  sleep;  and  though  be- 
numbed with  the  rain  and  cold,  and  almost  exhausted  for  want  of 
rest,  1  did  not  close  my  eyes  during  the  whole  time.  Many  pre- 
cious Scripture  truths  passed  through  my  mind ;  such  as — '•  When 
thou  passest  through  the  waters  I  will  be  with  thee,  and  through  the 
rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow  thee,"  which  I  applied  to  myself  in  a 
spiritual  manner  ;  for,  situated  as  we  were,  I  could  scarcely  expect 
to  have  them  literally  fulfilled.  I  know  not  when  I  felt  more 
strongly  the  delightful  sublimity  of  the  expression,  "He  holdeth 
the  waters  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,"  or  the  feeling  of  security 
even  for  the  body,  which  for  a  moment  it  gave  me. 

A<  you  may  suppose,  there  were  few  words  spoken,  and  the  only 
sound  we  heard,  besides  the  wind  and  rain  and  the  roaring  sea, 
was  that  of  the  boys  bailing  out  the  water.  Towards  two  or 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  (by  our  conjectures,  for  we  had  no 
light  to  see  with,)  the  wind  and  sea  seemed  to  abate,  and  finding 
we  shipped  very  little  water,  we  began  to  hope  that  our  lives  might 
yet  be  spared.  The  morning  slowly  dawned,  but  as  it  dawned  the 
wind  and  sea  increased.  As  soon  as  we  could  see,  the  foresail  was 
hauled  in  and  hoisted  to  the  wind,  and  the  mainsail  spread,  and 
we  commenced  again  our  perilous  course.  Soon  the  cry,  "  Land 
ho !"  was  raised,  and  when  the  morning  had  fairly  dawned,  we 


SHIPWRECK    OF    THE    HARMONY.  173 

saw  it  stretching  along  right  before  us,  about  ten  miles  off.  We 
must  have  been  driven  many  miles  during  the  night  to  be  so  near 
it.  Soon  our  hopes  were  greatly  excited,  for  the  land  had  the  ap- 
pearance precisely  of  that  about  the  entrance  of  Manila  Bay. 
We  could  see  what  we  took  to  be  Point  Hornos,  Mount  Mariveles, 
the  island  Corregidor,  and  the  Lora  Mountains;  and  we  were  filled 
with  joy  at  the  prospect  of  so  soon  ending  our  voyage. 

We  steered  directly  for  the  land,  meaning  to  get  behind  some 
projecting  point,  and  wait  till  the  sea  became  calm.  Meanwhile, 
however,  the  wind  and  sea  rose  again  ;  the  heavens  became  black 
behind  us,  and  there  was  a  great  rain.  To  our  sorrow,  also,  we 
found  that  we. had  mistaken  the  land,  for  none  of  us  had  ever  seen 
it  before.  But  it  was  too  late  to  go  back,  the  squall  was  upon  us; 
and  though  the  rain  fell  so  fast  that  we  could  not  see  more  than 
twenty  yards,  yet  on  we  must  go.  There  was  a  little  island  on 
the  right,  and  the  captain  was  on  the  point  of  steering  the  boat  so 
as  to  get  round  under  its  lee,  when  we  saw  heavy  breakers  right 
ahead.  We  turned  off  to  the  left,  though  at  an  imminent  risk, 
for  this  brought  our  broadside  to  the  sea,  and  several  light  waves 
dashed  over  us.  There  were  breakers  on  the  left  too,  but  we  were 
directed  in  a  channel  between  them,  and  rounding  a  projecting 
point  of  rocks,  we  saw  a  little  cove  sheltered  from  the  wind,  and 
as  smooth  as  an  inland  lake.  Soon  our  boat  touched  the  bottom, 
only  a  few  yards  from  the  shore.  We  jumped  overboard,  secured 
her  by  ropes  to  two  or  three  trees,  and  we  were  safe  !  It  was  a 
time  of  joy.  With  one  consent,  we  gathered  together  under  the 
trees,  and  offered  up  our  thanksgiving  and  praises  to  God,  with 
prayers  for  future  assistance  and  protection.  It  was  a  scene  wror- 
thy  of  a  painter's  skill, — our  little  boat  fastened  to  the  trees,  our 
scanty  baggage  piled  upon  the  shore,  and  ourselves  under  the 
custard-apple  trees,  standing  with  upturned  faces,  while  the  rain 
dropped  upon  our  bare  heads,  as  we  lifted  up  our  voices,  and  I 
trust  our  hearts  also  to  that  God  who  had  held  the  winds  in  his 
fist,  and  the  waters  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  and  had  brought  us 
through  dangers  which  we  never  expected  to  survive.  It  was  well 
we  came  in  when  we  did,  for  it  was  then  high  tide,  and  a  few  hours 
later  the  channel  through  which  we  had  passed,  was  itself  one 
mass  of  breakers.  Our  boat  would  inevitably  have  been  dashed 
to  pieces  there,  and  some,  if  not  all  of  us,  would  have  perished 
among  the  waves. 

After  all  due  attention  to  our  boat,  and  having  refreshed  our- 
selves with  biscuit,  raisins,  cheese,  and  plenty  of  water,  (for  there 
were  several  streams  only  a  few  yards  from  our  landing-place,)  our 
next  care  was  to  find  where  we  were.  We  knew  it  to  be  an  island, 
for  as  we  came  in  we  had  seen  land  at  a  great  distance  eastward, 
which  we  supposed  to  be  Luconia  ;  but  we  were  not  certain  whether 
we  were  north  or  south  of  the  entrance  of  Manila  Bay.  From  a 
little  point  hard  by  the  landing-place,  we  saw  a  telegraph  station 
on  a  hill,  and  thus  concluded  that  the  island  \vas  inhabited,  and 


174  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRTE. 

probably  by  Spaniards.  Accordingly,  Captain  Smith,  Mr.  G.,  (who 
spoke  both  Spanish  and  English, )  and  myself,  started  to  discover 
what  we  mi<_:lit.  Chun  Sing  brought  me  a  cutlass  that  had  been 
1  in  the°long-boat ;  but  being  a  man  of  peace,  I  told  him  to 
take  it  to  the  captain,  and  armed  myself  simply  with  a  walking- 
stick.  Thus  accoutred,  we  set  off;  but  Mr.  G.,  weakened  by  ex- 
p  i-ure  and  want  of  food,  broke  down  in  less  than  three  hundred 
yar.N.  and  declared  he  could  go  no  further.  He  went  back  to  the 
company  we  had  left  by  the  boat,  and  the  captain  and  myself 
went  on  alone  to  the  telegraph  station.  We  found  it  deserted. 
Thence  we  kept  on,  and  soon  saw  a  bullock  tied  by  the  nose,  a 
pile  of  boards  and  some  paddy  fields ;  sure  signs  that  inhabitants 
were  near.  We  were  now  joined  by  about  a  dozen  of  the  sailors, 
two  of  whom  had  cutlasses,  and  the  rest  walking-sticks,  and  a 
Portuguese,  who  had  been  in  the  long-boat,  and  spoke  a  little 
Spanish  and  English.  Altogether  we  were  a  remarkable  looking 
company,  and  being  high  in  spirits  from  our  late  wonderful  escape, 
we  went  on  right  merrily,  save  that  our  mirth  was  often  checked 
by  allusions  to  the  other  boat.  We  all  thought  she  was  lost,  judg- 
ing it  impossible  she  could  have  weathered  such  a  gale,  and  that 
all  on  board  must  have  perished. 

Finding  a  narrow  path  we  followed  it  over  a  hill  and  down  a 
little  valley,  and  presently  came  to  a  pumpkin  field,  in  which  was 
a  little  native  house,  and  some  Indians  eating  boiled  pumpkins. 
They  very  kindly  gave  us  some,  and  one  of  them  who  spoke 
Spanish  told  us  there  was  a  village  about  a  mile  off,  where  the 
Resguardo,  (an  officer  under  the  Spaniards,)  would  receive  and 
entertain  us.  He  went  along  to  show  the  road,  and  off  we  went, 
but  instead  of  one  mile  it  must  have  been  three.  We  crossed  hills, 
went  through  valleys,  picked  our  way  among  bushes,  through 
mud  half-knee  deep,  and  along  the  sea-shore,  fording  a  great 
many  small  brooks,  and  being  wet  several  times  with  rain  ;  but 
we  were  used  to  the  rain,  and  did  not  regard  that.  The  sand  ?ot 
into  my  shoes,  and  I  had  to  go  barefoot,  most  of  the  way.  We 
passed  several  natives  cutting  wood  ;  met  several  riding  on  bul- 
locks, one  of  whom  was  so  polite  as  to  take  off  his  hat  when  he 
saw  us ;  and  at  length  came  to  the  village.  It  was  a  collection  of 
some  twenty  or  thirty  huts  by  the  sea-shore,  and  all  the  windows 
and  doors  of  the  houses  were  crowded  with  women  and  children, 
who  gazed  at  us  as  if  we  had  fallen  from  the  skies. 

Our  guide  led  us  to  the  house  of  the  Resoruardo,  when  who 
should  come  running  to  meet  us  but  Mr.  Fillin  (the  mate)  and 
one  of  the  men  who  had  gone  in  the  jolly-boat.  "  Oh,  captain," 
said  the  former,  "is  this  you?  How  many  of  you  are  saved?" 
"Thank  God,  we  are  all  safe,  but  I  thought  you" were  lost !  Are 
you  all  alive  ?"  "  Tve  lost  four  men,  sir  /" 

They  had  arrived  in  sight  of  land  the  previous  afternoon  about 
four  o'clock,  and  when  some  four  miles  off,  a  tremendous  sea  came 
upon  them,  turned  the  boat  clear  end  over  end,  and  threw  them 


SHIPWRECK    OP    THE    HARMONY.  175 

all  into  the  sea.  Two  or  three  clung  to  the  boat,  but  were  washed 
off  by  the  waves;  another  (the  best  swimmer  in  the  ship)  tried  to 
swim  ashore,  but  must  have  been  dashed  against  the  rocks  and 
carried  out  by  a  back  current ;  while  the  mate  and  this  other  man, 
taking  each  an  oar,  had  made  for  the  land,  and  succeeded  in  get- 
ting ashore,  through  the  sui/,  though  with  great  difficulty  and 
danger.  Mr.  F.  was  much  bruised  and  cut  about  the  feet  by  the 
coral  rocks,  and  for  two  or  three  days  was  scarcely  able  to  move. 
They  had  spent  the  night  upon  the  rocks  near  the  place  where 
they  landed.  The  next  morning  they  found  their  boat  arid  the 
oars,  but  saw  no  signs  of  their  companions.  They  then  started 
to  find  a  house,  and  after  several  hours  of  very  laborious  walking, 
arrived  at  this  village,  only  half  an  hour  before  we  did,  and  were 
just  telling  the  people  they  supposed  all  the  rest  of  the  ship's  com- 
pany were  lost,  when  we  came  in  sight.  It  was  a  joyful,  yet  a 
sorrowful  meeting. 

The  people  of  the  house  received  us  kindly,  and  gave  us  hot 
coffee,  eggs  and  sweet  cakes,  which,  in  our  condition,  dripping  wet 
and  cold,  were  very  acceptable  indeed.  After  coffee  they  gave  us 
cigars.  The  house  was  crowded  full  of  people,  old  and  young, 
to  gaze  at  us,  and  a  big  Manila  bloodhound  in  the  corner  gave  us 
surly  growls  by  way  of  music.  It  was  Friday,  Sept.  30,  when 
we  landed.  We  stopped  in  the  village  of  Loc,  island  of  Luban, 
at  the  house  of  Senor  Nicolas  Perralta,  the  chief  man  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  an  Indian,  there  being  no  Spaniards  on  the  island.  We 
stayed  there  two  days,  and  were  treated  with  much  kindness  by 
Seiior  Perralta,  who  gave  us  his  own  best  room  for  our  lodging. 
It  was  not  furnished  with  beds,  but  we  slept  on  the  bare  and  not 
very  even  floor  with  much  comfort,  when  we  compared  it  with 
the  crowded  rough  bottom  of 'the  long-boat.  The  inhabitants 
were  poor,  and  we  bought  our  own  provisions,  which  our  own 
cook  and  steward  prepared  for  us. 

But  my  story  is  growing  too  long,  and  I  must  draw  it  to  a  close. 
We  remained  in  Luban  two  days ;  then  hired  a  potine,  or  native 
schooner,  with  "  mucho  mulos  velos  !"  amazingly  torn  and  rag- 
ged sails,  for  $100,  in  which  we  left  Luban  on  Sabbath  morning, 
Oct.  2,  for  Manila,  (according  to  Manila  time,  which  we  then 
used,  it  was  Saturday.)  We  reached  Manila  about  two  o'clock, 
p.  M.,  the  next  day.  The  silly  captain  of  the  potine  had  almost 
wrecked  us  again  in  a  squall  off  Corregidor  at  midnight,  and  had 
it.  not  been  for  Captain  Smith's  presence  of  mind,  who  sent  one  of 
his  own  men  to  the  helm,  and  took  command  himself,  we  should 
certainly  have  been  cast  away  on  the  rocks  of  Point  Limbone.s. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  and  Mr.  G.  Sturgis  were  seated  at  the 
fruit  table  when  I  re-entered  their  house.  For  awhile  they  could 
scarce  believe  their  eyes,  and  it  was  not  till  I  spoke  that  they  could 
believe  it  was  the  same  person  who  had  left  them  only  two  weeks 
before  in  full  hope  of  a  speedy  voyage  to  Singapore.  They  re- 
ceived me  most  kindly.  Great  was  the  sympathy  expressed  by 


176  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

all  classes  in  Manila.  The  news  of  our  shipwreck  and  wonderful 
escape  spread  likr  wildfire,  for  every  one  had  seen  and  admired 
the  11  uui.inv,  and  every  one  knew  and  liked  her  captain.  I  re- 
ceived my  full  share  of  sympathy  ;  but  as  an  offset  to  this,  had 
also  the  satisfaction  of  hearing  that  many  of  the  sailors  in  the 
harbor  attributed  the  loss  of  the  vessel  entirely  to  her  having  that 
clergyman  on  board  !  The  long-boat  was  visited  and  in- 
spected by  many  in  Manila,  who  could  scarce  believe  it  possible 
that  twenty-three  persons  had  been  stowed  away  in  so  small  a 
space  ;  and  how  we  weathered  such  a  gale,  which  was  severely 
felt  in  the  roads  at  Manila,  where  many  ships  had  dragged  their 
anchors,  was  a  wonder  to  all.  Captain  Cole;  of  the  Delhi,  a  large 
American  vessel,  which  had  been  obliged  to  lie  to  in  the  same 
gale,  told  me  he  considered  our  escape  little  less  than  miraculous. 
Indeed  the  more  I  have  heard  of  the  ravages  of  that  gale,  the 
more  am  I  astonished  at  our  escape.  During  the  very  time  we 
were  most  exposed  to  its  fury  in  the  long-boat,  a  Spanish  vessel 
was  driven  ashore  on  Luconia  and  lost,  and  the  Conrade,  an 
English  vessel,  was  thrown  on  her  beam  ends,  dismasted  and 
finally  foundered,  while  one-half  her  crew  were  drowned. 

When  I  look  back  and  consider  how  many  wonderful  circum- 
stances conspired  to  secure  our  safety  in  the  midst  of  most  immi- 
nent danger,  it  is  hard  to  believe  that  it  has  been  a  reality.  It 
seems,  even  now,  like  some  terrible  dream  from  which  I  have 
hardly  yet  awaked. 

It  was  most  providential  for  us  that  the  ship  struck  by  day,  and 
not  by  night ;  that  her  masts  did  not  go  overboard  when  she 
struck,  as  they  certainly  would  have  done,  had  she  not  been  a 
new  and  strong  vessel ;  that  we  got  safely  into  the  boats  in  the 
dark  with  that  heavy  sea  running  ;"  that  we  had  provisions  enough, 
and  sails  when  our  oars  were  broken ;  that  we  weathered  that 
severe  gale  ;  that  by  daylight  we  were  so  near  the  land  ;  that  we 
escaped  the  breakers  by  coming  in  at  high  tide  ;  that  we  found 
that  little  sheltered  cove ;  that  we  met  such  kind  treatment  at 
Luban  ;  that  we  arrived  safely  at  Manila,  notwithstanding  the 
.dangers  of  Corregidor,  and  that  none  of  us  (so  far  as  I  know) 
have  suffered  any  serious  inconvenience  from  so  much  exposure 
to  sea,  and  sun,  and  wind,  and  rain.  All  that  I  experienced  was 
a  soreness  in  my  limbs  and  a  slight  fever  for  several  hours  after 
we  landed  on  Luban.  I  cut  me  a  walking-stick  the  day  we  left 
that  island,  which  has  been  mounted  and  sent  to  my  father  as  a 
memento  of  that  wonderful  deliverance,  and  I  am  sure  that  you 
and  all  our  family  will  join  me  in  the  prayer,  that  the  life  thus 
spared  may  be  devoted  to  Him  who  first  gave  it  to  me,  and  now 
has  rescued  it  from  the  engulfing  sea  ;  that  though  I  shall  not 
attain  to  the  eminence  of  that  Moses  who  was  drawn  out  of  the 
waters,  I  may  yet,  in  some  humble  degree,  be  like  him— a  leader 
to  rescue  God's  chosen  people  in  China,  and  lead  them  like  a  flock 
in  the  green  pastures  of  his  Holy  Word. 


RETURN   TO   MANILA.  177 

I  must  not  omit  to  mention  two  other  items  of  great  importance, 
in  which  the  hand  of  God  was  manifested  for  our  preservation; 
the  first  was  that  the  cord,  which,  by  means  of  the  foresail,  held 
the  boat's  head  to  the  wind,  did  not  chafe  or  give  way,  notwith- 
standing the  constant  strain  upon  it.  We  were  very  apprehensive 
of  this,  for  it  was  not  as  thick  as  a  man's  thumb,  and  our  lives 
seemed  to  depend  upon  that  little  cord.  The  second  was  that  the 
heavy  gale  we  had  on  Thursday  and  Thursday  night  was  from 
the  west.  Had  it  been  an  easterly  gale,  like  the  one  we  experi 
enced  in  the  same  place  only  nine  days  before,  it  would  either  have 
entirely  overwhelmed  us,  or  else  have  sent  us  half  way  to  Cochin 
China.  Even  the  heavy  rain,  uncomfortable  as  it  was,  tended  to 
our  safety,  for  it  kept  the  sea  from  raging  as  it  would  otherwise 
have  done.  A  heavy  rain  has  something  of  the  effect  of  oil  on 
the  waters.  It  keeps  the  waves  down. 

As  so  many  persons  were  to  go  in  the  long-boat  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  save  anything,  except  absolute  necessaries  and  valuables  of 
small  size.  All  I  saved,  therefore,  was  my  watch,  my  pencil  case 
given  by  Mr.  B.,  what  little  specie  I  had  in  the  vessel,  ( about  $100 
in  gold,)  the  clothes  on  my  back,  and  a  few  other  articles  of  dress, 
my  Bible,  and  my  cloak.  Everything  was  wet  through  by  the 
rain  and  salt  water,  except  my  Bible,  which  I  had  taken  the  pre- 
caution to  envelop  in  the  thick  fold  of  the  cloak,  and  which  was 
thus  only  slightly  damp.  Everything  else  was  abandoned.  For- 
tunately I  had  but  a  small  part  of  my  books  with  me,  perhaps 
one-fifth.  Among  these  were  all  my  Chinese  books  ;  a  volume  of 
Flavel,  which  I  prize  above  its  weight  in  gold  ;  a  number  of  valu- 
able papers,  and  all  my  written  sermons.  With  my  clothes  and 
other  articles  thus  abandoned,  were  some  parcels  sent  from  the 
missionaries  in  China  to  their  friends  in  Singapore,  Bangkok  and 
Malacca. 

Arrived  at  Manila,  it  was  with  some  difficulty  I  could  muster  a 
suit  of  clothes  to  "go  ashore."  I  had  my  coat  and  pantaloons,  a 
pair  of  slippers,  a  shirt  without  bosom  and  collar,  a  pair  of  woollen 
stockings,  and  a  cap  that  barely  covered  my  head.  I  had  no  vest, 
but  that  was  concealed  by  buttoning  the  coat ;  collars  are  not  in- 
dispensable, and  I  borrowed  a  rusty  black  cravat  from  Capt.  Smith, 
who  happened  to  have  two  or  three.  In  such  a  suit,  with  my  sun- 
burnt face,  (from  which  the  skin  all  peeled  off  in  a  few  days,)  my 
Luban  walking-stick,  and  my  cloak  on  my  arm,  I  set  foot  in  Manila 
again.  But  I  was  among  kind  friends.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  sup- 
plied every  want. 

I  was  at  some  loss,  then,  what  course  to  take,  but  finally  thought 
it  best  to  return  to  China.  Mr.  Elgar,  the  brother  of  Mrs.  Moore, 
gave  me  a  free  passage  to  Hong  Kong,  in  a  vessel  of  which- he  was 
part  owner,  and  for  that  place  I  embarked  October  lOt.h,  with  seve- 
ral fellow- passengers.  When  we  left  Manila,  in  the  Harmony,  the 
port-captain,  who  came  off  to  give  the  ship  her  clearance,  was  verjr 
merry,  and  said  to  me,  "Ah,  senor  padre,  vergas  cesar  senor 


178  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

Moore!"  (Ah,  sir  priest,  you  only  came  here  to  marry  Mr.  Moore.) 
But  when  he  came  to  give  the  Diana  her  clearance,  his  manner 
was  quite  altered, "and  almost  melancholy,  as  he  said,  "Ah,  senor 
padre  no  otro  matrimonio  !  no  otro  matrimonio  !" 

We  reached  Hong  Kong  safely,  though  after  a  rather  rough  pas- 
sage, on  the  17th  of  October ;  just  four  months  after  I  had  left 
Macao  for  Singapore.  Through  what  varied  scenes  I  had  passed, 
yet  out  of  them  all  the  Lord  delivered  me.  In  the  Sea  Q,ueen  I 
had  an  opportunity  of  studying  the  first  part  of  Acts  xxvii.  From 
mv  experience  on  board  the  Harmony,  I  have  come  to  a  better 
understanding  of  the  latter  part  of  the  same  chapter. 

"Oh,  that  men  would  prai.se  the  Lord  for  his  goodness,  and  for 
his  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  men.  And  let  them  sacri- 
fice the  sacrifices  of  thanksgivings,  and  declare  his  works  with  re- 
joicing. They  that  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships,  that  do  business 
in  the  great  waters,  these  see  the  works  of  the  Lord,  and  his  won- 
ders in  the  deep.  For  he  commandeth,  and  raiseth  .the  stormy 
wind,  which  lifteth  up  the  waves  thereof.  They  mount  up  to  ihe 
heavens,  they  go  down  again  to  the  depths;  their  soul  is  melted 
because  of  trouble.  They  reel  to  and  fro,  and  stagger  like  a 
drunken  man,  and  are  at  their  wits'  end.  Then  they  cry  unto 
the  Lord,  and  he  bringeth  them  out  of  their  distresses.  He  maketh 
the  storm  a  calm,  so  that  the  waves  thereof  are  still.  Then  they 
are  glad,  because  they  be  quiet.  So  he  bringeth  them  to  their  de- 
sired haven." 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Hong-  Kong,  November  9th,  1842. 
To  THE  SECOND  PRESBYTERY  OF  NEW  YORK — 

FATHERS  AND  BRETHREN  IN  THE  MINISTRY  :  It  is  now  just 
one  year  from  the  time  when  I  received  the  solemn  rite  of  ordination 
at  your  hands.  Although  nothing  was  said  to  me  in  reference  to 
holding  a  correspondence  with  you,  yet  I  have  thought  it  would 
be  agreeable  to  you  to  receive  occasional  communications  from 
me  ;  and  1  am  sure  it  will  be  profitable  to  myself  to  receive  the 
advice,  the  warning,  and  the  encouragement,  which  your  let- 
ters to  me  would  contain.  Far  separated  as  I  now  am  from  the 
kindly  influences  of  a  Christian  land,  and  finding  but  few  among 
the  few  Christians  near  me,  who  care  particularly  for  the  disci- 
pline of  our  beloved  Church,  I  shall  highly  prize,  and.  I  trust,  profit 
by,  anything  that  shall  remind  me  of  my  connection  with  a  branch 
of  the  Church,  whose  doctrines  I  consider  as  founded  on  the  Scrip- 
tures of  truth,  and  whose  form  of  government  I  have  always  pre- 
ferred as  being  the  most  scriptural  and  the  most  practically  useful. 
Surrounded  as  you  are  by  influences  that  bear  upon  this  subject, 
you  can  hardly  conceive  how  necessary  it  is  for  us  who  are  sep- 
arated from  you  in  these  ends  of  the  earth,  to  have  our  minds 
stirred  up  by  way  of  remembrance,  by  communications  from  the 


LETTERS.  179 

ecclesiastical  bodies  with  which  we  have  been  connected  in  our 
native  land. 

The  members  of  the  Presbytery  are  probably  all  aware  that  my 
departure  was  delayed  much  longer  than  was  anticipated  after  my 
ordination.  The  time  thus  spent  in  the  United  States  was  not 
wholly  unemployed,  as  I  had  several  opportunities  of  preaching  on 
various  subjects,  and  presenting  the  cause  of  foreign  missions  in 
several  churches.  I  left  New  York  in  the  ship  Huntress,  January 
19th.  The  whole  number  of  persons  on  board  the  vessel  was 
thirty-one  ;  and  to  these  I  had  the  privilege  of  preaching  once 
every  Sabbath  on  the  voyage,  with  the  exception  of  two  days, 
when  ill  health  and  stormy  weather  prevented.  The  attention 
manifested  was  remarkably  good  almost  all  the  time.  After  land- 
ing at  Macao,  May  27th,  I  preached  twice  in  that  place,  and  once 
in  Hong  Kong,  during  the  three  weeks  I  then  spent  in  China. 
Following  the  instructions  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  I  left  Macao  June  19th  for  Singapore, 
and  have  not,  since  that  time,  had  more  than  one  opportunity  or 
preaching  the  Gospel.  The  vessel  in  which  I  left  Macao  was 
manned  by  persons  who  did  not  speak  English.  After  being  de- 
tained in  her  by  contrary  winds  for  sixty:five  days,  we  were 
obliged  to  go  into  Manila  for  provisions.  I  remained  in  Manila 
about  a  month,  but  owing  to  the  jealousy  of  the  Roman  Catholio 
priests  had  no  opportunity  of  preaching  there.  There  has  never 
been  a  Protestant  service  on  the  Phillipine  Islands. 

The  vessel  in  which  I  left  Manila  was  shipwrecked,  and  the 
passengers  and  crew  were  obliged  to  escape  in  the  boats.  For 
four  days  and  five  nights  we  were  on  the  deep  without  shelter, 
and  part  of  the  time  "  we  despaired  even  of  life."  After  several 
very  narrow  escapes,  we  arrived  safe  at  land.  Nothing  but  the 
hand  of  God  could  have  delivered  us  from  the  imminent  dangers 
to  which  we  were  exposed  ;  and  I  trust  the  Presbytery  will  join 
with  me  in  the  prayer  that  the  life  thus  spared  may  be  more  en- 
tirely devoted  to  the  service  of  God  than  ever  before.  I  then  re- 
turned to  this  place,  where  I  arrived  October  18th,  and  have  since 
that  time  been  busily  employed  in  making  arrangements  for  the 
permanent  location  of  our  missions  in  China.  Thus  far,  however, 
little  has  been  done.  The  Providence  of  God  has,  during  the  past 
summer,  greatly  hindered  the  plans  both  of  myself,  and  of  each  of 
my  colleagues  in  the  mission,  and  at  times  we  have  felt  almost 
discouraged.  I  trust,  however,  that  matters  are  now  in  a  fair  way 
to  be  settled,  and  hope  yet  to  see  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
China  joining  with  sister  churches  in  spreading  the  pure  light 
of  the  Gospel  over  this  long-benighted  empire.  But  how  great  is 
the  work  !  and  how  few  are  the  laborers  !  while  the  propagators 
of  error  are  many  and  strong.  The  country  is  opening  wider  and 
wider  every  day,  but  there  are  few  to  enter. 

Fathers  and  brethren,  allow  me  to  suggest  to  you,  and  through 
you  to  the  churches  over  which  you  are  placed,  a  few  ideas  that 


180  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

have  occurred  to  me  while  contemplating  the  field  I  am  sent  to  cul- 
tivate, and  a  few  facts  which  have  fallen  under  my  own  observation. 
Of 'the  importance  of  speedily  communicating  to  China  the 
light  of  the  Gospel,  I  suppose  no  doubt  can  be  entertained.  This 
is  admitted  by  all,  and,  for  more  than  thirty  years  past,  efforts  have 
been  made  to  accomplish,  or  at  least  to  commence  this  work.  The 
contest  of  the  Gospel  with  error,  has  thus  been  going  on  for  many 
years,  and  has  been  watched  with  interest  by  at  least  a  few ;  but 
is  there  not  reason  to  believe,  that  the  Christian  church  is  carry- 
ing on  this  contest  with  far  less  vigor  than  she  ought?  Nay  may 
I  not  affirm,  that  instead  of  coming  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord 
against  the  mighty,  almost  the  whole  Christian  church  has  been 
slumbering  in  regard  to  China,  and  manifesting  a  most  culpable 
inattention  to  the  whole  subject?  It  may  assist  our  views,  to  con- 
sider for  a  moment  the  present  state  of  affairs  in  China.  The 
eyes  of  all  the  world  are  turned  to  this  empire  at  this  moment, 
and  the  facts  that  I  mention  are  known  to  all.  There  is  then,  at 
ihis  time,  a  two-fold  contest  going  on  in  China.  One  is  conducted 
by  the  British  nation,  the  other  by  the  Christian  world.  The  ob- 
ject of  the  former  is  to  open  China  for  commercial  purposes,  in 
order  that  a  market  may  be  found  for  manufactures  and  produc- 
tions, and  a  mine  be  opened  from  which  the  inhabitants  of  other 
nations  may  dig  stores  of  this  world's  treasures,  which  all  perish  in 
the  using.  The  object  of  the  latter  is  to  overthrow  the  power  of 
Satan  in  this  empire,  to  scatter  the  beams  of  Heaven's  own  light 
on  the  thick  darkness  that  envelops  it,  to  save  the  souls  of  our 
brethren  who  inhabit  these  ends  of  the  earth,  and  to  increase  the 
declarative  glory  of  our  glorious  God  and  gracious  Saviour,  by  the 
building  up  of  a  holy  temple  to  his  name,  where  Satan's  seat  now 
is.  Suppose  that  in  each  of  these  contests  the  results  aimed  at 
should  be  gained,  will  any  one  say  that  the  former  are  of  equal 
importance  with  the  latter?  Will  any  one  look  far  down  into  the 
ages  of  eternity,  and  estimating  the  value  of  the  results  as  they 
then  appear,  seriously  affirm  that  the  former  deserves  half  the 
labor  arid  sacrifices  and  expense  that  the  latter  does?  Surely  not. 
Yet  how  are  these  contests  carried  on  ?  I  wish  I  could  show  you 
what  I  now  see  before  my  eyes.  The  door  of  the  room  where  I 
am  writing  commands  a  full  view  of  the  city  and  harbor  of  Hong 
Kong.  I  can  point  you  to  tens  and  hundreds  of  houses,  large, 
massive,  and  expensive,  erected  more  or  less  directly  to  further  the 
first  contest ;  but  I  can  point  you  to  only  five  erected  to  carry  on 
the  second,  and  of  those  five  only  two  are  finished.  In  the  har- 
bor I  can  point  you  at  this  present  moment,  to  no  less  than  four 
ships  of  the  line,  several  other  vessels  of  war,  and  nearly  fifty 
transport  ships,  sent  at  great  expense  from  the  other  side  of  the 
world,  filled  with  men  and  valuable  stores,  commanded  by  able 
and  experienced  officers,  to  carry  on  the  first  contest,  and  these  are 
hardly  a  moiety  of  the  ships  and  men  and  money  employed  :  but 
when  you  ask,  where  are  the  ships  and  the  men  employed  in  the 


LETTERS.  lS\ 

second  ?  alas,  I  can  hardly  answer  you.  I  take  my  glass,  and 
slowly  scanning  the  large  fleet  before  me,  at  last  point  out.  to  you 
a  merchant  ship.  "In  that  vessel  a  solitary  missionary  went  to 
Amoy  and  Chusan  during  the  last  summer,  to  prepare  the  way  for  a 
station  at  one  of  these  places,  but  as  yet  he  has  not  fixed  upon  any 
spot."  By  the  side  of  that  vessel  is  another ;  "  In  her,  a  few 
months  since,  three  missionaries  went  to  Amoy,  where  they  now 
are."  By  the  side  of  that  vessel  is  another  ;  "  In  her  one  mission- 
ary with  his  wife,  expects  before  long  to  proceed  to  Chusan." 
Are  these  all?  Yes.  Out  of  the  hundreds  and  thousands  that 
have  left  this  harbor  since  May  of  this  year  for  the  northern  ports, 
only  these  five  were  missionaries;  only  these  five  have  gone,  or 
are  going,  as  the  representatives  of  the  Christian  churches  in  Eng- 
land and  America.  Lest  any  one  should  charge  me  with  conceal- 
ing a  part  of  the  truth,  I  must  add  that  two  other  missionaries 
were  previously  stationed,  one  at  Amoy,  and  one  at  Chusan. 
These  seven  are  all  that  are  engaged  for  the  northern  ports,  while 
in  Hong  Kong  and  Macao,  are  in  all  only  nine  more.  These  six- 
teen are  all  that  the  whole  of  the  churches  of  Protestant  Christen- 
dom have  now  employed  in  China,  to  carry  on  the  great  contest 
between  Christ  and  Satan ;  while  the  English  nation  alone  has 
employed  this  year,  more  than  fifteen  thousand  persons  to  secure 
some  few  commercial  advantages!  Has  the  Christian  church 
done  her  duty  towards  China? 

Some  men  talk  of  the  immense  sacrifices  of  life  and  money,  in 
carrying  on  the  work  of  missions  !  Why,  the  English  government 
has  spent  more  money  and  lost  more  men,  during  this  last  year  of 
her  contest  with  China,  than  the  whole  Christian  church  has  done 
in  any  ten  years,  in  all  the  heathen  world  together !  From  the 
room  where  I  sit  I  see  the  burying-ground,  and  evening  after  even- 
ing, as  the  sun  goes  down,  I  hear  the  solemn  martial  music,  and  the 
last  salute  fired  over  the  new-made  grave  of  one,  and  another,  and 
another,  who  have  died  of  wounds  received,  or  diseases  contracted 
in  the  civil  contest  of  the  past  year;  while  during  that  time,  but 
one  of  those  engaged  in  the  other  contest,  has  gone  to  her  long 
home.  Fathers  and  brethren,  are  you  prepared  to  say  that  while 
so  much  has  been  done  for  purely  worldly  ends,  and  so  little  for 
purely  spiritual  objects,  the  church  in  general,  or  yourselves  in 
particular,  have  done  all  that  should  be  done  for  China  ?  Do  you 
still  wonder  that  so  little  has  been  done  to  Christianize  the  mass 
of  this  great  nation  ?  and  yet  I  have  not  told  you  all  that  is  dis- 
couraging, nor  even  what  is  most  so.  It  is  sad  to  see  so  little  good 
done,  but  still  sadder  to  see  so  much  error  propagated.  From  the 
room  where  I  sit,  1  can  see  almost  every  house  in  Hong  Kong ; 
and  what,  suppose  you,  is  the  most,  conspicuous  object  there  ?  A 
Roman  Catholic  church  and  monastery!  These  buildings,  from 
their  commanding  position  and  large  size,  being  the  largest  in 
Hong  Kong,  are  the  first  that  attract  a  new-comer's  attention; 
more  money  has  been  expended  on  them  during  the  past  twelve 


182  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

months,  than  on  all  the  buildings  of  all  the  Protestant  missiona- 
ries in  China  !  "Would  that  this  were  all  I  had  to  say,  but  I  have 
more.  The  Roman  Catholic  missionaries  in  China  are  more  than 
ten  times  as  numerous  as  the  Protestants,  and  they  are  receiving 
large  annual  accessions,  while  with  us  the  number  of  accessions 
scarcely  equals  the  diminution  by  death  and  removals.  While  a 
single  Protestant  missionary  was  struggling  to  maintain  himself 
in  Chusan  during  the  last  year,  nine  Roman  Catholic  priests  came 
and  settled  there  at  one  time !  When  I  was  in  Manila,  in  Sep- 
tember, fifty-two  Roman  Catholic  priests  arrived  there  from  Spain 
in  a  single  vessel,  some  of  whom  will  probably  find  their  way  to 
China.  There  are  hundreds,  aye,  and  thousands,  of  Roman  Catho- 
lic priests  in  the  Phillipine  islands,  who  could  be  transferred  to 
China  almost  at  a  moment's  notice;  but  where,  where  shall  we 
look  for  Protestant  missionaries  for  this  great  empire?  I  do  feel 
at  times  discouraged  ;  my  heart  does  at  times  sink  within  me, 
when  I  look  back  to  my  native  land,  and  hear  how  few  are  will- 
ing to  come  out ;  how  few  are  earnest  in  prayer  for  us  ;  how  few 
act  as  if  they  believed  the  words  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  "  It  is 
more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive." 

Since,  then,  the  work  is  so  great,  since  the  laborers  are  so  few, 
since  men  of  this  world  are  so  zealous  to  secure  a  little  more  of 
this  world's  goods,  since  the  disseminators  of  error  are  so  numerous 
and  so  rapidly  increasing,  I  call  upon  you,  my  fellow-workers  in 
the  ministry,  and  co-presbyters  in  the  Church,  to  use  your  influ- 
ence in  furtherance  of  the  cause  of  Christ  in  China.  It  is  but  a 
little  time  we  have  to  labor,  and  we  have  no  time  for  trifling  or 
delay.  Could  you  but  see  the  half  of  what  I  see  every  day, — the 
idols  under  every  green  tree,  and  on  every  high  hill ;  the  incense 
and  offerings  burnt  to  the  devil ;  and  the  thousand  unnamed  and 
nameless  proofs  of  the  prevalence  of  mind-debasing  and  soul-ruin- 
ing idolatry ;  you  would  need  no  inducement  to  urge  you  on  to 
greater  diligence  and  exertion.  Pardon  the  freedom  that  your 
youngest  brother  thus  uses.  I  am  sometimes  sad,  and  my  heart 
is  sometimes  sick  within  me;  and  therefore  I  thus  write.  Pray 
for  me,  teach  your  people  to  pray  for  the  heathen,  and  for  your 
brethren  that  labor  among  them.  I  hope  to  hear  from  you  soon. 
In  the  meantime,  I  remain  your  brother  in  the  Lord, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  December  9th,  1842. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

....  I  am  lonely,  and  am  besides  rather  perplexed  with  the  af- 
fairs of  our  mission.  However,  I  do  not  think  it  will  be  so  long, 
and  besides  I  trust  I  have  learned  to  say 

I  sure 

Have  had  enough  of  bitter  in  rny  cup, 
To  show  that  never  was  it  his  design, 


LETTERS.  183 

Who  placed  me  here,  that  I  should  live  at  ease, 

Or  drink  at  pleasure's  fountain.     Henceforth  then 

It  matters  not,  if  storm  or  sunshine  be 

My  future  lot ;  bitter  or  sweet  my  cup ; 

I  only  pray,  God  fit  me  for  my  work  ! 

God  make  me  holy,  and  my  spirit  nerve 

For  the  stern  hour  of  strife !     Let  me  but  know 

There  is  an  arm  unseen  that  holds  me  up, 

An  eye  that  kindly  watches  all  my  path 

Till  I  my  weary  pilgrimage  have  done. 

December  13th.  The  Sea  Queen  has  at  last  arrived  at  Singa- 
pore after  being  out  forty  days  from  Manila,  and  in  all  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  from  China.  I  am  glad  she  has  got  there,  but 
hope  to  be  excused  from  ever  making  a  passage  in  her  again.  The 
navigation  of  the  China  Sea  is  exceedingly  uncertain.  A  vessel 
which  left  Macao  August  16,  arrived  in  Singapore  October  16, 
being  sixty  days  on  the  way.  Another  vessel,  an  American,  which 
left  Macao  October  8,  arrived  at  Singapore  October  18,  being  only 
ten  days  on  the  way  !  I  mean  to  patronize  American  vessels 
hereafter.  I  have  been  greatly  struck  with  that  text,  "  It  is  not  in 
man  that  walketh  to  direct  his  steps."  The  reason  why  I  went  in 
the  Sea  Queen  rather  than  in  the  Oneida  was,  that  it  was  expected 
that  the  former  would  arrive  much  sooner  than  the  latter.  I  should 
have  got  to  Singapore  and  might  have  come  back  in  the  same  ves- 
sel to  China  almost  as  soon  as  I  did.  She  left  China  nearly  three 
weeks  after  the  Sea  Queen,  got  to  Singapore  before  we  got  to 
Manila,  stayed  there  two  months,  and  came  back  here  in  November. 
It  mi<rht,  have  altered  the  whole  course  of  my  future  life,  had  I 
gone  in  her;  and  would  probably  have  saved  me  an  amount  of 
suffering,  bodily  and  mental,  that  few  are  called  to  endure  in  so 
short  a  time.  But  what  is  past  cannot  be  recalled,  and  though  I 
have  suffered,  I  should  rather  say  because  I  have  suffered,  I  trust 
I  am  a  wiser,  and  a  better,  and  an  humbler  Christian  than  I  was  ; 
and  if  I  am  not  happier  now,  I  may  be  hereafter,  on  account  of 
what  has  happened. 

The  bud  may  have  a  bitter  taste, 
But  sweet  will  be  the  flower. 

...  I  am  at  present  just  like  a  man  who -has  stopped  at  an  inn, 
to  wait  for  letters  to  direct  his  future  course,  and  often  feel  very 
deeply  that  "I  am  a  stranger  in  the  earth."  Of  one  thing,  how- 
ever, I  am  truly  glad,  nothing  has  yet  occurred  that  makes  it 
necessary  that  I  should  leave  China,  or  that  makes  it  at  all  proba- 
ble that  I  shall  have  to  do  so  ;  there  is  scarcely  anything  that  I 
dread  more  than  the  idea  of  leaving  my  missionary  work.  .  .  . 
I  remain  affectionately  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


184  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

Macao,  December  17th,  1842. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER— 

The  Bazaar  arrived  here  to-day  from  Singapore,  of  which  I  was 
informed  by  having  a  packet  of  letters  sent  to  me.  Opening  it,  I 
found  letters  for  Mr.  Buell,  Mr.  McBryde,  Dr.  Hepburn,  and,  to 
my  great  satisfaction,  two  for  myself,  one  of  which  was  from  you, 
dated  May  12th.  I  read  it  very  speedily,  and  could  hardly  refrain 
from  tears  as  I  did  so.  Had  you  known  precisely  my  feelings  at 
the  present  time,  you  could  hardly  have  written  anything  more 
appropriate  than  its  conclusion.  It  was  written  to  encourage  me 
in  trials,  and  to  point  me  to  the  sure  source  of  consolation.  Trials 
have  come  upon  me  within  the  last  twelve  months,  wave  after 
wave,  and  each  one,  like  Job's  messengers,  more  severe  than  the 
preceding,  and  for  awhile  I  thought  I  could  hardly  sustain  them. 
My  leaving  home  was  a  trial,  but  for  that  1  was  prepared  by  long 
expectation,  and  sustained  by  special  communications  of  grace. 
My  delays  in  the  Sea  Queen,  and  the  exceedingly  unpleasant  ac- 
commodations there  tried  me  much  more  severely  ;  but  it  was 
profitable,  and  taught  me  many  useful  lessons,  the  benefit  of  which 
I  experienced  when  shipwrecked  in  the  Harmony.  Besides  these 
o'  ••  anl  trials,  I  have  experienced  much  anxiety  in  deciding  on 
-t  course  to  be  pursued  in  relation  to  the  China  mission. 
i.  circumstances  you  can  sea--  y  understand  how  much  I 

was  '»=^ed  by  that  train  of  tho        t  which  connects  our  tribu- 

lations ind  our  poor  weak  sei         :,  with  the  glory  of  the  Sa- 

viour, a«ij  the  inconceivable  dispb      of  his  wisdom,  justice,  love, 
and  mercy,  "s  manifested  to  the  uni-  erse  on  the  judgment  day  ! 

....  The  Foreign  Missionary  pleases  me  much.  1  determined, 
soon  as  I  saw  it,  to  write  something  for  its  pages,  and  hope  to  be 
able  to  send  you  some  little  articles  soon. 

As  to  the  brethren  who  have  decided  not  to  come  out  here  with- 
out wives,  I  suppose  the  best  way  is  for  each  one  to  be  well  per- 
suaded in  his  own  mind.  I  have  seen  enough  to  make  me  think 
that  most  missionaries  ought  to  be  married,  provided  they  can  get 
suitable  wives.  If  they  are  not  provided  in  that  respect,  by  the 
time  they  are  ready  to  leave,  and  there  is  a  call  for  their  services, 
it  might  be  a  question  whether  they  are  not  called  to  go  out  alone. 
As  far  as  I  am  personally  concerned,  I  am  satisfied  that  the  course 
I  took  was  the  best,  and  I  should  probably  act  in  the  same  way, 
if  in  the  United  States  a  rain.  .  .  . 

Affectionately  your  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  December  24th,  1842. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

Yesterday  was  a  happy  day  for  me.     You  know  how  I  have 
been  disappointed  hitherto  about  getting  my  letters.     They  had 


LETTERS.  185 

all  gone  on  to  Singapore,  and  when  the  Bazaar  came  up,  and  did 
not  bring  them,  I  was  afraid  that  I  might  have  a  long  time  to  wait 
yet,  before  they  came  to  hand.  Yesterday  morning  Mr.  Bridge- 
man's  servant  came  over  from  Hong  Kong,  and  brought  me  a 
packet  (hat  had  been  sent  there  by  mistake.  I  opened  it,  and  be- 
hold, one,  two,  three,  four,  yes,  fourteen  letters,  from  father  and 
mother,  and  John  0.,  and  Elizabeth,  and  John  M.  I  put  up  my 
Chinese  books  in  all  haste,  and  sent  off  to  tell  my  teacher  he  "  need 
not  come  to-day,"  and  then — did  not  I  have  a  feast?  You  do  not 
know  what  a  letter  is  worth  in  the  United  States.  When  you  are 
separated  only  a  few  hundred  miles,  and  have  regular  mails,  it  is 
nothing  very  special  to  have  a  letter  once  a  month  or  so.  But 
when  the  sun  is  shining  on  you,  while  your  friends  are  sleeping 
on  the  other  side  of  the  world,  ah,  that  is  a  different  thing.  My 
first  emotion  was  one  of  sincere  gratitude  for  such  a  favor  ;  and 
my  second,  perplexity  which  to  open  first ;  and  you  would  have 
been  amused  could  you  have  seen  me,  while  I  was  reading.  Some- 
times I  laughed  till  the  tears  came  into  my  eyes ;  sometimes  a 
sentence  brought  other  tears,  and  yet  not  tears  of  sorrow  t!~  ?e ; 
and  sometimes  a  sigh  escaped  me,  as  I  thought  of  the  bias*  »  pes 
and  disappointments  implied  in  some  of  the  various  item  !,,u  ews 
that  met  my  eye.  I  seemed  to  be  among  you  again  <  lived 
over  the  day  of  parting,  and  the  few  preceding  weeks.  ,*  d  yet, 
eleven  months  and  more  have  passed  since  then  !  ar  l.,i-;  .at  re- 
markable things  have  happ  d  in  that  time  !  at  lea  ,  Myself, 
for  as  far  as  I  can  gather,  }  .ave  had  but  few  impof  hanges 

since  I  left. 

If  you  think  I  am  going  i^  .^e  tired  of  the  length  and  common- 
placeness  of  your  letters,  how  am  I  to  suppose  you  win  receive  my 
voluminous  journals  and  letters?  Inasmuch  as  I  have  the  vanity 
to  suppose  that  the  latter  will  be  all  read,  notwithstanding  their 
prodigious  length,  you  need  not  suppose  I  shall  "skip"  any  of 
yours. 

....  I  am  well,  and  contented,  and  happy,  though  still  some- 
what lonely,  and  occasionally  perplexed.  My  future  movements 
are  still  uncertain. 

With  much  affection,  and  many  fond  remembrances, 

I  remain  truly  yours, 

W  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  December  27th,  1842. 
JAMES  LENOX,  ESQ. — 

MY  DEAR  SIR  : — I  have  lately  received,  by  the  Bazaar,  a  volume 
of  the  British  Reformers,  which  my  father  informs  me  is  from 
yourself.  The  receipt  of  it  gave  me  much  pleasure,  not  merely 
on  account  of  the  intrinsic  worth  of  the  book,  but  principally  be- 
cause it  assured  me  I  was  still  kindly  remembered  in  a  family, 
with  which  my  intercourse,  though  short,  was  very  pleasant. 


186  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

A  missionary  to  China,  I  find,  has  need  of  a  good  many  qualifi- 
cations ;  and  at  present  it  seems  probable  that  one  qualification  of 
which  he  will  find  peculiar  need,  is  a  thorough  acquaintance  with 
the  writings  and  spirit  of  the  ancient  reformers  from  Popery.  One 
of  the  very  greatest  difficulties  with  which  we  shall  have  to  con- 
tend, will  arise  from  the  opposition  of  the  Roman  Catholics.  It  is 
impossible  to  say  how  many  native  Roman  Catholics  there  are  in 
China.  Probably  the  accounts  their  priests  give  of  their  numbers 
are  exaggerated  ;  but  it  is  certain  there  are  many.  Their  priests, 
too,  are  far  more  numerous  than  the  Protestant  missionaries ;  and 
being  all  unmarried,  and  many  of  them  zealous,  and  active,  and 
enterprising,  they  bid  fair  to  go  far  ahead  of  Protestant  missions. 
I  do  not  think  that  their  celibacy  is  any  advantage  in  the  long  run, 
nor  would  I  wish  to  see  many  unmarried  Protestant  missionaries 
here  ;  but  a  few  of  the  right  spirit  are  greatly  needed.  If  we  had 
some  twenty  or  thirty  single  men,  of  thoroughly  cultivated  minds, 
and  prepared  to  submit  to  trials  and  privations  to  which  a  lady 
ought  not  to  be  exposed,  I  should  not.  humanly  speaking,  be  much 
afraid  of  the  contest  with  Popery  in  China.  At  present,  however, 
there  is  no  prospect  whatever  of  such  a  band  coming  out  to  join 
us ;  and  the  few  who  are  here  are  scarcely  able, — indeed  we  are 
not  able, — to  occupy  the  ports  already  thrown  open,  but  must 
stand  still  and  see.  the  Popish  priests  go,  not  two  and  two,  but  by 
sixes  and  tens,  and  establish  themselves  in  every  place  where  a 
foothold  can  be  gained.  Already  they  have  erected  a  bishoprick 
at  Shanghai,  though  I  have  not  heard  that  a  single  Protestant 
missionary  is  going  there.  I  do  not  think  that  many  of  the  priests 
in  China,  or  in  that  swarming  Romish  hive,  Luconia,  are  men  of 
much  ability,  or  of  extensive  acquirements.  Some  of  them,  how- 
ever, are;  and  they  will  easily  make  up  in  numbers  what  they 
lack  in  mental  culture,  while  the  perfect  subordination  of  their 
system  gives  them  advantages  which  we  look  at,  but  cannot  hope 
to  equal.  There  is,  indeed,  scarcely  anything  in  reference  to 
China  that  gives  me  so  many  distressing  apprehensions  as  the 
activity  of  the  Romish  priests,  contrasted  as  it  is  with  the  apathy 
of  Protestant  churches  in  England  and  America.  England  has 
only  three,  and  America  only  thirteen  missionaries  actually  in 
China ;  and  if  the  whole  number  laboring  for  China  were  col- 
lected, they  would  not  amount  to  thirty,  of  whom  not  more  than 
one-half  are  qualified  by  acquaintance  with  the  language  for  effi- 
cient labor.  It  is  true  that  the  God  we  serve  is  able  abundantly 
to  produce  the  greatest  effects  by  the  fewest  and  simplest  means, 
but  the  time  does  not  seem  yet  to  have  come  when  a  nation  shall 
be  born  in  a  day ;  and  till  that  time  comes,  perhaps  I  should  say, 
in  order  that  it  may  come,  we  must  use  means  in  some  degree 
proportioned  to  the  results 'we  hope  for.  But  I  have  filled  up  my 
sheet  with  what,  perhaps,  will  not  be  very  interesting  to  you.  I 
had  no  intention  of  writing  at  all  on  this  subject  when  I  took  up 
ray  pen,  but  the  mention  of  the  British  Reformers  led  my  mind  to 


LETTERS.  187 

a  subject  that  often  has  a  painful  interest  to  me.  I  cannot  see 
through  it,  but  I  feel  that  \ve  who  labor  in  China  will  have  great 
need  of  the  "faith  and  patience  of  the  saints"  of  olden  times,  if 
we  expect  to  maintain  our  standing  here  against  the  last  efforts 
and  long-protracted  dying  agonies,  for  such  I  believe  they  will  be, 
of  the  man  of  sin. 

I  often  think  of  you,  and  of  the  pleasant  Sabbath  I  spent  at 
New  Hamburgh.  It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  hear  from 
you  at  any  time  ;  a  letter,  in  these  ends  of  the  earth,  is  an  object 
of  great  value.  .  .  . 

I  am,  with  much  respect  and  esteem,  truly  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  December  29th,  1842. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

Since  my  letter  of  December  17,  sent  by  the  Delhi,  T  have  re- 
ceived yours  of  February  22  and  March  12.  May  3,  and  June  4, 
for  all  of  which  I  am  under  very  great  obligations  to  you.  It  is  a 
little  remarkable,  that  though  you  have  probably  less  time  for 
writing  than  any  of  the  family,  yet  you  have  written  more  than 
all  the  rest  of  them  put  together,  and  given  me  more  news.  Many 
particulars  in  your  letters  have  interested  me  very  deeply,  particu- 
larly those  concerning  the  funds,  and  your  efforts  to  increase  them, 
and  your  accounts  of  Princeton  students,  and  the  prospect,  of  more 
missionaries.  As  to  the  former  subject,  I  fear  it  will  be  many  years 
before  the  Church  comes  up  even  in  a  moderate  degree  to  her  duty. 
Indeed,  I  have  long  thought,  that  the  present  generation  of  Chris- 
tians will  never  do  all  that  may  be  expected.  As  long  as  a  Chris- 
tian man  is  allowed  to  give  five  dollars  for  his  annual  subscription 
to  the  missionary  work,  and  the  next  day  buy  fifty  dollars  worth 
of  tulips,  and  yet  retain  his  standing  in  the  church,  I  have  little 
hopes  of  seeing  the  right  spirit,  prevail.  I  have  thought,  therefore, 
for  years,  that,  our  hopes  are  in  the  Sabbath  schools.  None  are  so 
easily  interested  in  missions  as  children,  and  none  may  be  so  easily 
trained  to  proper  principles  as  they.  I  have  sent  by  the  Akbar 
four  letters  to  Sabbath-school  children.  They  are  just  such  as  I 
used  to  speak  to  the  children  of  my  Sabbath-schools,  and  nothing 
that  ever  I  said  interested  them  so  much.  They  are  intended  for 
the  Foreign  Missionary,  and  I  shall  probably  send  some  more  soon. 
If  they  are  judged  suitable,  I  can  furnish  a  good  number  of  them 
gradually.  Of  course  originality  is  not  the  main  thing  in  such 
articles,  although  I  know  that  to  four-fifths  of  the  Sunday-school 
children,  in  our  churches,  even  to  those  at  your  very  doors,  the 
facts  I  have  stated,  and  may  yet.  state,  will  possess  all  the  fresh- 
ness of  some  new  discovery.  I  have  seen  a  whole  school  staring 
with  eyes  and  mouth  both,  at  the  narration  of  the  commonest 
facts  in  regard  to  the  heathen  ;  and  it  is  mainly  for  want  of  early 
instruction  and  training  in  regard  to  the^  facts  and  principles  of 


188  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

minions,  that  you  find  it  so  difficult  to  bring  the  churches  to  give 
fivt-ly  of  their  substance  to  further  them.  This  opinion  is  formed 
on  a  more  thorough  knowledge  of  the  real  state  of  the  case,  than 
is  .renerally  possessed.  I  hope  to  send  soon  some  thoughts  on  this 
subject,  founded  mainly  on  facts  that  I  have  seen,  and  inferences 
that  seein  to  me  to  be  justly  drawn  from  them. 

In  regard  to  the  students  at  the  Seminary,  I  am  greatly  pleased 
to  hear  that  so  much  of  the  proper  spirit  prevails  among  them. 
Nothing  further  occurs  to  me  in  reference  to  the  propriety  of  men 
waiting  for  wives,  when  they  are  in  other  respects  ready  to  start, 
in  addftion  to  what  I  have  said  before.  I  should  be  sorry  to  do  it, 

but  let  every  man  be  well  persuaded  in  his  own  mind I 

am  very  anxious  to  have and  -    -  here.     I  knew  them  both, 

particularly  the  former,  in  College,  and  know  of  none  at  present  in 
the  Seminary,  so  well  qualified  for  this  field.  After  we  are  fairly 
established  here,  we  can  find  work  and  places  for  a  good  deal  of 
variety  in  the  character  of  our  missionaries.  At  present,  however, 
we  are  very  much  in  need  of  some  six  or  eight  of  the  "  first  chop;" 
as  a  Chinaman  would  say,  "  No.  1,  good ;"  and  until  we  are  estab- 
lished, others  would  be  rather  in  the  way. 

....  I  propose  to  study  Chinese  pretty  diligently  for  the  next 
three  months  ;  by  that  time  I  hope  to  hear  from  you,  and  to  know 
definitely  who  is  coming,  if  anybody,  and  when.  After  that  I  may 
have  to  go  to  Hong  Kong,  as  all  the  missionaries  will  probably 
leave  this  place  in  March. 

With  much  love  for  yourself  and  all  the  family, 

I  remain  your  affectionate  son,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  December  29th,  1842. 
MR.  JOHN  LLOYD — 

MY  DEAR  JOHN  : — Though  I  have  several  friends,  who,  if  they 
knew  I  were  writing  to  you,  might  think  they  had  a  prior  claim 
to  yours  just  now.  yet  the  associations  and  recollections  of  this 
day  lead  my  mind  most  strongly  to  yourself;  and  though  I  have 
written  one  letter  of  some  length  to  you  since  I  came  out,  yet  I 
feel  as  if  I  wanted  to  send  another.  .  .  . 

This  day  is  the  anniversary  of  my  spiritual  birth  ;  eight  years 
ago  to-day  !  What  would  I  not  have  given  eight  years  ago,  to 
have  been  assured  that  I  should  persevere  thus  long  in  the  Chris- 
tian course  1  If  any  one  had  shown  me  all  the  temptations  and 
trials  I  was  to  experience  in  that  time,  and  then  assured  me  that  I 
should  survive  them  all,  and  be  the  better  for  them,  I  could  scarcely 
have  believed  him.  Yet  it  has  been  so,  and  having  obtained  help 
of  God,  I  continue  to  this  day,  and  humbly  hope,  that  through 
him  I  shall  persevere  even  to  the  end.  I  trust  he  has  taught  me 
to  look  upward  both  for  strength  and  for  happiness,  and  more  so 
lately  than  ever  before.  My  soul  doth,  therefore,  magnify  the 
Lord. 


LETTERS.  189 

I  spent  the  greater  part  of  this  afternoon  in  reading  over  your 
letters.  I  wish  I  had  yourself  here  to  talk  to,  for  I  sometimes  feel 
a  little  lonely  ;  especially  as  bot.h  my  colleagues  are  at  present  at 
other  stations,  and  it  will  be  some  little  time  before  we  can  get 
together. 

So  many  things  crowd  upon  me,  that  I  hardly  know  what  to 
write  about.  I  could  easily  tell  you  a  long  story  of  adventures 
and  perils,  and  strange  sights  and  scenes,  and  wonderful  deliver- 
ances, but  I  have  not  time  for  that,  and  you  will  probably  see 
some  of  them  in  the  Chronicle.  Many  of  them  I  must  reserve  for 
your  private  ear,  "  when  we  meet  in  Pekin,  China,"  as  you  said 
in  one  of  the  letters  I  read  this  afternoon.  I  am  now  de- 
voting some  five  or  six  hours  daily  to  Chinese;  and  though  as 
yet  I  have  made  little  progress,  (it  is  only  a  month  since  I  com- 
menced it  regularly.)  yet  I  feel  somewhat  encouraged.  It  will  be 
long,  however,  I  fear,  before  I  can  speak  it  at  all ;  and  I  fear  that 
at  best.  I  shall  have  to  speak  "  with  stammering  lips  and  another 
tongue,  to  this  people."  Owing  to  uncertainty  as  to  my  future 
location,  I  have  thought  it  best  to  commence  the  Court  dialect, 
(commonly  called  the  Mandarin,)  which  is  not  spoken,  except  by 
the  literati  and  public  officers.  My  progress  will,  on  this  account, 
be  slower  at  first,  but  I  think  more  rapid,  steady,  and  successful  in 
the  end. 

I  know  you  are  anxious  to  know  how  I  feel  about  matters  and 
things  in  general,  and  though  it  is  yet  too  soon  to  speak  definitely, 
yet  to  you  I  can  speak  freely  ;  for  you  will  know  how  to  account 
for  it,  if  I  should  afterwards  change  my  opinions.  So  far,  my  fears 
rrhave  been  mostly  disappointed,  and  my  expectations  more  than 
realized.  I  think  that  for  two  or  three  years  before  leaving  the 
United  States,  I  had  as  little  romance  in  regard  to  missions,  as 
any  one  could  have,  who  had  never  been  actually  on  heathen 
ground.  Consequently  I  have  not  been  disappointed.  Parting  with 
friends  was  a  sore  trial,  but  I  had  so  long  expected  it,  and  prayed 
for  sustaining  grace,  that  I  found  it  far  less  difficult  to  bear  than 
I  had  anticipated.  It  was  a  great  relief  to  me  that  it  was  quickly 
over.  The  ship  left  the  wharf  at  half-past  twelve,  and  I  was  truly 
glad  that  none  of  my  friends  came  with  me  to  the  Hook.  I  have 
at  present  no  wish  to  return.  Since  I  landed  in  China  I  have,  as 
you  are  aware,  had  a  pretty  full  share  of  trials.  Now  no  chas- 
tisement for  the  present  is  joyous  but  grievous.  So  I  found  them. 
Nevertheless,  although  the  remembrance  of  them  is  yet  fresh,  and 
the  unpleasant  effects  of  them  still  continue  to  a  degree,  yet  from 
what  I  have  already  felt,  I  am  fully  assured  that  "  afterwards  they 
shall  yield  to  me  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness."  In  gen- 
eral the  year,  (it  is  nearly  a  year,)  which  has  past  since  I  left  New 
York,  has  been  one  of  the  happiest  I  have  ever  spent ;  and  I  now 
look  back  on  it  with  as  much  satisfaction  as  any  other  equal  por- 
tion of  my  life,  perhaps  I  should  say  with  more  satisfaction.  I 
•tame  out  almost  unwillingly.  I  felt  loath  to  leave  a  field  I  had 


190  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

long  desired  to  occupy  :  I  have  not  found  everything  here  arranged 
a~  f  desired,  nor  have  I  been  able  to  accomplish  all  that  I  wished. 
I  have  been  in  unpleasant  society  :  I  have  suffered  in  body  :  I 
have  hung  in  the  jaws  of  death  for  hours  together,  not  expecting 
to  live  from  one  moment  to  another :  I  have  been  obliged  to  wait 
for  months  and  months  for  letters  from  home,  and  I  am  now  in  a 
station  where  I  have  no  colleagues  in  the  same  mission,  and  do 
not  expect  to  have  for  some  months  ;  and  yet  with  all  these  ad- 
verse circumstances,  I  am  glad  I  came,  and  pray  that  I  may  be 
suffered  lo  remain.  The  work  is  great;  there  is  plenty  of  it,  A 
wide  and  effectual  door  is  opened,  there  are  few  to  enter,  while 
the  enemy  is  very  busy  sowing  tares.  I  do  not  think  there  is  that 
promise  of  immediate  usefulness  here  that  there  is  in  many  other 
places.  I  hardly  hope  to  see  such  churches  formed  here  soon  as 
have  been  formed  in  Africa,  and  in  India,  and  in  the  islands  of  the 
sea.  Indeed,  I  may  never  have  the  privilege  of  seeing  any  Christian 
church  formed  here  ;  yet,  notwithstanding  all  this,  I  think  the 
prospect  of  usefulness  is  very  great  indeed  ;  and  for  men  of  the 
right  spirit  and  qualifications,  who  are  willing  to  wait  for  the  fruit 
of  their  labors  till  they  enter  heaven,  if  it  be  their  Master's  will 
that  they  wait  thus  long,  I  know  of  few  fields  so  inviting.  At 
present,  1  think  the  great  difficulty  is  the  language  ;  but  every  year 
this  difficulty  is  becoming  less,  as  new  facilities  in  the  way  of  books 
for  its  acquisition  are  being  prepared,  and  places  are  opened  where 
free  intercourse  with  persons  who  speak  it  in  its  purity  is  allowed. 
In  a  few  years  1  think  it  will  not  be  considered  a  very  difficult 
task  for  persons  of  good  common  sense,  perseverance,  and  ordinary 
abilities  to  acquire  it.  At  present,  however,  let  nobody  who  can- 
not study  Latin  and  Greek,  and  who  is  subject  to  the  dyspepsia, 
come  out  to  China.  They  had  better  go  elsewhere.  Such  being 
my  views,  dear  brother,  I  have  some  commands  to  lay  upon  you. — 
the  first  and  chief  of  which  is,  get  ready  to  come  out  here  as  quick 
as  you  can.  I  am  going  to  write  to  father,  and  tell  him  to  catch 
you  by  the  back  of  the  neck  and  put  you  down  in  the  hold  of  one 
of  Mr.  Olyphant's  ships,  if  you  ever  talk  of  going  to  any  other  part 
of  the  world.  I'll  take  charge  of  you  out  here.  Seriously,  though, 

I  want  you  and to  come  out  to  China  ;  and  if  either  of 

you  do  not  come,  I  shall  expect  a  very  satisfactory  and  length- 
ened communication  from  you,  showing  good  reasons  for  not 
doing  it.  I  speak  of  you  two  in  particular,  because  I  think 
you  as  well  qualified  as  any  of  the  missionary  students  I  know 
in  the  Seminary,  for  this  field.  The  second  command  is,  to 
pay  considerable  attention  to  the  Roman  Catholic  controversy  ; 
you  may  find  need  for  it  here.  Thirdly,  in  regard  to  wives  ;  'if 
you  can  get  good  ones,  get  them  by  all  means  ;  but.  I  beg  you  not 
to  delay  coming  for  want  of  them."  Shall  the  heathen  perish,  and 
your  period  of  active  labor,  short  at  best,  be  rendered  still  shorter, 
because  you  cannot  come  alone  to  labor,  where  merchants  spend 
their  ten,  twenty,  and  thirty  years  in  celibacy,  for  the  sake  of 


LETTERS.  191 

gain?  .  .  .  Spend  your  vacations  in  looking1  for  wives,  (Dr. 's 

advice  to  the  contrary,  notwithstanding.)  but  do  not  keep  the  ship 
in  waiting.  I  do  not  know  how  I  shall  get  along  without  one. 
There  is  at  present  no  prospect  of  my  getting  one,  but  lam  not 
sorry  that  I  took  the  course  I  did  in  this  matter.  My  opinions 
may  change  hereafter ;  when  they  do,  perhaps  I'll  tell  you. 

I  could  write  much  more — indeed,  I  feel  loath  to  stop,  but  I 
must  write  another  letter  or  two  to-night,  as  the  vessel  goes  soon. 
Dear  brother,  how  often  I  think  of  you,  and  long  to  see  you  ! 
The  memory  of  joys  that  are  past  is  sweet  to  my  soul. 

That  the  richest  of  heaven's  blessings  may  ever  rest  upon  you 
is  the  prayer  of 

Your  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


CHAPTER   V 

1843. 

RESIDENCE   IN   MACAO — VOYAGE   UP   THE   COAST — DESCRIPTION   OF   AMOY   AND 
CHANG   CHOW — RETURN   TO   MACAO. 

IN  the  early  part  of  the  year,  Mr.  McBryde  and  his  wife  were 
obliged  to  leave  China  on  account  of  the  failure  of  his  health; 
and  in  the  summer,  Dr.  Hepburn  and  his  family  arrived  at  Macao, 
from  Singapore.  Mr.  Lowrie  spent  his  time  chiefly  at  Macao, 
engaged  in  the  study  of  the  Chinese  language,  and  preaching  on 
the  Sabbath  to  the  American  and  European  residents  of  that 
place.  In  August  he  commenced  a  voyage  to  the  north,  with  the 
intention  of  visiting  all  the  newly-opened  cities,  to  make  inquiries 
as  to  their  relative  advantages  for  missionary  labor.  His  descrip- 
tion of  Amoy  and  Chang  Chow,  will  be  found  in  the  following 
journals.  Proceeding  from  Amoy  to  the  north,  owing  to  contrary 
winds,  the  voyage  was  slow,  and  they  were  several  times  driven 
to  seek  for  shelter  on  the  coast,  by  stress  of  weather.  After  al- 
most reaching  Chusan,  the  vessel  was  driven  back  by  the  north- 
east monsoon,  and  the  voyage  was  then  relinquished. 

In  the  mean  time  the  Executive  Committee  had  decided  to  oc- 
cupy three  stations  in  China, — one  in  the  Canton  province,  one 
at  Amoy,  and  the  other  at  Ningpo  or  Shanghai,  as  might  be 
found  most  eligible.  Dr.  Hepburn  was  assigned  to  Amoy,  and 
after  being  once  driven  back  by  a  severe  gale,  he  reached  his 
field  of  labor  in  October. 

During  his  residence  at  Macao,  the  correspondence  of  Mr. 
Lowrie  with  the  Executive  Committee  at  home  was  very  full,  and 
contained  much  information  of  great  service  to  them  in  deciding 
on  the  various  questions  relating  to  the  missionary  work  in  this 
great  field  of  labor.  Active  preparations  were  made  by  them 
during  this  year  to  send  out  a  large  missionary  force,  which  will 
be  noticed  in  the  proper  place. 

At  the  close  of  this  chapter  will  be  found  a  proclamation  of 


LETTERS.  193 

Sir  Henry  Pottinger,  "Her  Britannic  Majesty's  plenipotentiary, 
&c.  &c.,"  censuring  the  visit  of  Messrs.  Abeel  and  Lovvrie  to  the 
city  of  Chang  Chow.  This  proclamation,  and  the  letter  to  the 
Chinese  authorities,  are  extraordinary  papers,  in  more  respects 
than  one.  They  were  uncalled  for, — no  complaint  had  been 
made,  and  Sir  Henry  himself  became  the  informer.  They  were 
insulting  and  arrogant,  for  he  censures  American  citizens,  who 
were  in  no  respect  amenable  to  him,  or  subject  to  his  jurisdiction. 
They  were  based  on  a  false  assumption,  for  the  supplementary 
treaty  had  not  then  been  published,  and  no  law  or  regulation  had 
been  infringed.  The  inference  that  they  passed  themselves  for 
Englishmen  was  equally  gratuitous,  and  was  contradicted  in  the 
very  account  that  drew  forth  his  impotent  rebuke.  There  is  some- 
thing ludicrous,  moreover,  in  the  charge  that  two  unarmed  and 
peaceable  men  had  forced  their  way  among  fifty  thousand  men, 
and  there  bearded  their  highest  officers.  Mr.  Abeel  was  absent, 
and  the  duty  devolved  on  his  associate  in  the  alleged  trespass, 
to  assert  their  rights  as  American  citizens,  and  to  decline  the  ju- 
risdiction so  arrogantly  assumed.  Had  he  used  much  stronger 
language,  few  of  his  countrymen  would  have  been  displeased. 


Macao,  January  27th,  1843. 
REV.  JOHN  M.  LOWRIE — 

MY  DEAR  COUSIN  : — The  greatest  difficulty  now  is  with  the 

language I  am  by  no  means  discouraged,  and,  if  my  life  is 

spared,  hope  that  I  shall  yet  be  permitted  to  do  something  in  this 
great  field.  But  alas  for  these  millions  that  are  going  down  to 
death!  Who  shall  break  unto  them  the  bread  of  life?  There 
are  only  sixteen  Protestant  missionaries  actually  in  China,  and 
the  half  of  these  know  too  little  of  the  language  to  be  as  yet  of 
any  direct  service.  Like  the  two  loaves  and  the  little  fishes,  what 
are  these  among  so  many  ?  Oh  for  the  presence  and  blessing  of 
that  Saviour  who  can  multiply  the  bread  of  life,  thus  spread  be- 
fore the  multitude,  till  they  shall  all  eat  and  be  filled  ! 

It  requires  a  great  deal  of  faith  and  grace  to  be  a  missionary. 
Here  I  am  away  from  Christian  privileges,  and  precluded,  in  great 
measure,  except  by  writing,  from  opportunities  of  direct  usefulness; 
removed  from  the  kindly  influences  of  Christian  public  opinion  ; 
surrounded  by  everything  that  is  calculated  to  deaden  the  Chris- 
tian graces  ;  and  engaged  in  a  study  in  itself  exceedingly  dry,  and 
which,  in  addition,  promises  to  keep  me  for  several  years  before  I 
can  call  myself  a  proficient.  I  know  not  how  I  shall  bear  up 
against  these  adverse  influences.  Hitherto  the  Lord  has  sustained 
me,  and  I  know  that  his  grace  is  still  more  than  sufficient.  Thus 


194  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

far  I  have  enjoyed  great  peace  of  mind  and  satisfaction  in  my 
course.  The  only  thing  I  have  to  complain  of,  is  my  want  of 
more  love  to  God,  and  zeal  in  his  service.  Oh,  it  is  a  sad  thing 
to  see  these  poor  heathen  blindly  going  on  in  their  errors,  and  yet 
not  be  able  to  say  a  word  to  warn  them  of  their  danger.  This  is 
especially  sorrowful,  because  this  sense  of  inability  is  apt  to  make 
one  careless.  It  is  a  temptation  that  comes  with  strong  force  at 
times,  "Since  you  can  do  nothing,  why  trouble  yourself  about  their 
condition  ?  Why  should  you  feel  sad,  when  your  sadness  will  not 
help  them  ?"  Yet  it  is  not  so ;  because,  if  the  heart  is  affected  for 
them,  it  will  prompt  to  greater  diligence  in  laboring  and  praying 
for  them. 

The  thirtieth  of  this  month  is  the  Chinese  new  year — a  time  of 
great  festivity  and  rejoicing,  of  firing  of  crackers  and  offering  of 
incense,  of  sending  presents  and  displaying  finery ;  and  the  people 
around  seem  to  be  making  great  preparations.  Nearly  all  the 
shops  are  gaudy  with  tinsel  and  pictures,  and  gaily  painted  lan- 
terns, and  toys  of  various  kinds,  though  there  is  not  nearly  so 
much  show  and  display  here  as  in  Canton. 

My  impressions  of  China,  as  a  field  of  labor,  have  been  much 
improved  since  I  came  out  here  ;  and  after  we  once  get  free  access 
to  the  people,  I  do  not  think  the  language  will  be  found  to  be  a 
very  formidable  obstacle.  It  will  always  be  difficult,  perhaps  more 
so  than  any  other  spoken  language ;  but  I  am  inclined  to  think 
its  difficulties  have  been  greatly  overrated.  The  tones,  which  are 
now  so  formidable,  will,  I  think,  be  found  to  present  but  few  diffi- 
culties, when  the  restrictions  to  free  intercourse  with  the  people, 
which  have  hitherto  been  so  great,  are  removed.  But  prayer  and 
patience,  as  Elliot  says,  will  accomplish  all  that  is  needed,  though 
in  each  of  these  I  am  but  too  deficient. 

You  will  see  from  this  letter,  how  much  my  thoughts  are  run- 
ning upon  one  subject.  Indeed,  I  do  little  else  but  think  about 
the  language,  to  which  I  give  the  best  part  of  each  day.  I  com- 
monly commence  about  nine  o'clock,  and  study  as  constantly  as  I 
can  till  four,  p.  M.  ;  though  there  is  always  an  hour  or  two  of  in- 
terruptions. I  do  not  think  it  wise  to  give  more  time  than  this, 
though  I  often  feel  as  if  I  should  like  to  live  in  Chinese.  Pray  for 
me  ;  I  am  in  great  need  of  help  from  above. 

With  best  wishes,  I  remain, 

Your  affectionate  cousin. 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  February  3d,  1843. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

Why  does  not  the  Morrison  come  in  ?  We  have  heard  three 
weeks  ago  by  overland  mail,  that  she  was  to  leave  September  17. 
If  so,  she  ought  to  have  been  here  ten  days  ago.  I  have  gone  up 
to  the  upper  terrace  in  our  garden  every  day,  and  looked  out  to 


LETTERS.  195 

see  if  any  ship  was  coming  in  ;  but  not  one.     She  ought  to  bring 
three  months'  later  news,  and  letters  in  any  quantity. 

I  often  wonder  what  sort  of  letters  I  shall  get,  when  the  news 
of  my  disasters  shall  have  reached  you.  For  a  while  my  letters 
went  like  Job's  messengers,  each  one  worse  than  the  one  before. 
Whether  the  worst  has  come  yet,  I  do  riot  know.  Generally  I  am 
quite  cheerful,  and  the  little  folks  take  great  liberties  with  me,  to 
my  great  "  contentation."  But  sometimes  I  am  melancholy,  often 
sad,  and  occasionally  an  undefined  anxiety  clouds  my  mind. 
Who  knoweth  what  a  day  may  bring  forth  1  After  what  I  have 
already  experienced,  how  can  I  tell  whence  the  next  storm  shall 
arise  ?  But  the  "  Lord  reigneth.  Let  the  earth  rejoice."  Here- 
after we  shall  see  perfectly 

Truly  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  February  24th,  1843. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

....  I  have  just  heard  that  Mr.  Canfield  [of  the  African  mis- 
sion,] is  dead.  This  was  unexpected  and  most  distressing  news, 
though  I  never  thought  that  either  he  or  Mr.  Alward  would  endure 
that  climate  as  well  as  I  probably  would  have  done.  If  the  hand 
of  God's  providence  had  not  so  remarkably  brought  me  here  in 
spite  of  myself;  and  preserved  me  through  dangers,  when  time 
and  again  it  seemed  as  though  I  should  be  overwhelmed  in  the 
waves,  I  should  almost  wish  that  I  had  gone  to  Africa.  The 
curse  seems  still  to  rest  on  Africa.  Ethiopia  stretches  out  her 
hand,  but  her  teachers  are  removed  far  off.  She  still  sits  in  dark- 
ness. Oh  that  light  may  speedily  arise  upon  her  !  At  times  I 
can  hardly  help  wishing  myself  there,  if  it  were  only  to  escape  the 
drudgery  of  this  terrible  language.  Yet  I  do  not  see  much  reason 
for  discouragement  so  far  ;  counting  up  the  other  day,  I  found  my- 
self master  of  more  than  six  hundred  characters,  which,  for  only 
three  months'  uninterrupted  attention,  is  pretty  good  progress ; 
better  than  I  expected.  By  the  time  the  Chinese  tailor  "  rubs  a 
crowbar  down  to  a  needle,"  I  hope  to  understand  the  language 
pretty  well.  But  when  will  that  be  ? 

February  25th.  Saturday  night !  How  many,  many  thoughts 
of  former  days  and  former  joys  crowd  around  me,  as  I  lay  by  my 
books  and  papers,  to  prepare  for  the  coming  Sabbath  !  How  the 
time  rolls  on  !  It  seems  but  a  day  since  the  ship  left  the  wharf, 
in  my  own  native  land ;  yet  more  than  a  year  has  flown  away, 
and  I  have  passed  through  scenes  that  make  me  feel  as  if  many 
years  had  been  crowded  into  one.  I  have  seen  joy  and  sorrow 
since  that  time.  I  have  felt  my  heart  uplifted  as  on  eagles'  wings, 
and  again  it  has  sunk  to  the  earth.  I  have  looked  upon  the  ocean 
when  calm  as  a  sleeping  infant's  slumbers.  I  have  laid  my  hand 
upon  its  foam-crested  waves,  and  felt  that  a  half-inch  plank  and 


196  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

a  slender  cord  alone  preserved  me  from  going  down  like  lead  in 
the  mighty  waters.  I  have  seen  plan  after  plan  fail,  and  hope 
after  hope  disappointed.  I  have  stood  a  solitary  stranger  amidst 
thousands  who  spoke  a  different  language,  without  being  able  to 
utter  a  word  that  they  could  understand.  Again  and  again  have 
I  been  taught  to  say,  "  I  am  a  stranger  in  the  earth."  Yet,  with- 
al, light  has  arisen  to  me  in  darkness,  joy  has  come  to  me  in  sor- 
row, and  hope  has  sprung  up  after  disappointments  ;  for  "tribula- 
tion worketh  patience,  and  patience  experience,  and  experience 
hope,  and  hope  maketh  not  ashamed."  The  love  of  God  is  shed 
abroad  upon  me,  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  grace  of  Christ  is 
sufficient  for  me.  Would  I  go  back  ?  no !  Do  I  regret  that  I 
came  ?  no !  Lonely  I  am  at  times  ;  sorrowful  often  ;  perplexed, 
but  not  in  despair ;  cast  down,  but  not  destroyed.  The  past  is 
gone,  but  its  pleasant  remembrances  and  painful  lessons  remain  ; 
and  deeply  as  some  of  them  have  been  felt,  already  I  can  say, 

"  The  sunshine  to  the  flower  may  give 

The  tints  that  charm  the  sight, 
But  scentless  would  that  flow'ret  live 

If  skies  were  always  bright. 
Dark  clouds  and  showers  its  scent  bestow, 
And  purest  joy  is  born  of  woe." 

The  future  is  still  future,  long  or  short,  happy  or  mournful,  "  all 
to  me  unknown ;"  but  I  know  what  is  far  better,  "  The  Lord 
reigneth,  let  the  earth  rejoice."  .  .  . 

Yours  affectionately, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  April  9th,  1843. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

....  Saturday  night  again  !  more  than  one-fourth  of  this  year 
is  already  gone.  It  sometimes  seems  to  me  that  I  shall  welcome 
with  joy,  the  time  when  the  shadows  shall  stretch  out  and  the 
evening  draw  near.  Yet  how  soon  it  may  come !  Three  weeks 
ago,  Mrs.  Dean  had  as  good  prospects  of  long  life  as  any  of  us ; 
but  the  grass  is  already  growing  over  her  grave,  and  her  labors 
and  toils  are  over  forever.  She  is  in  the  haven,  while  her  fellow- 
voyagers  are  still  buffeting  with  the  stormy  sea.  She  is  singing 
before  the  throne,  while  we  hang  our  harps  upon  the  willows  and 
weep.  Farewell. 

Affectionately  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  May  14th,  1843. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

.  .  .  It  is  Sabbath  night,  and  though  I  do  not  often  write  letters 
on  this  day,  yet  occasionally  I  feel  it  a  privilege  to  spend  a  part  of 


LETTERS.  197 

this  day  in  epistolary  correspondence  of  a  particular  kind.  I  do 
not  do  it  for  the  sake  of  saving  time,  but  on  the  same  principle 
that  would  induce  me,  if  in  America,  to  diversify  the  exercises  of 
the  day  by  Christian  conversation  with  those  around  me.  Before 
breakfast  this  morning,  a  Chinaman  came  to  my  door  with  a 
couple  of  letters,  sent  to  me  from  Hong  Kong.  They  were  from 
father,  dated  Aug.  30th  and  December  13th,  1842,  both  overland, 
but  delayed  a  good  deal  in  arriving.  After  breakfast,  I  spent  some 
time  in  preparing  for  preaching.  I  preach  now  every  Sabbath  in 
the  chapel  here,  being  the  only  clergyman  in  Macao  except  Mr. 
McBryde,  who  is  not  able  to  preach.  Just  as  I  was  about  to  go  to 
the  chapel,  a  bundle  of  letters  and  papers  from  the  "  Paul  Jones," 
came  in.  I  had  a  week  ago  received  half  a  dozen  letters,  and 
supposed  there  were  no  more ;  these  had  gone  to  Canton  by  mis- 
take, and  now  were  returned.  It  was  quite  a  temptation,  but  I 
left  them  unopened  till  I  returned  from  church,  and  then  found 
one  from  brother  John,  one  from  father,  and  one  from  yourself, 
dated  December  28th  and  30th.  Dear  mother,  I  cannot  express 
my  thanks  to  you  sufficiently  for  that  letter.  You  seemed  to  fear 
that  it  would  afford  me  little  gratification,  but  it  has  been  the  most 
interesting  letter  I  have  yet  received  from  you.  I  like  "  news" 
very  well,  but  I  like  kind  words  and  warm  expressions  of  affection 
a  great  deal  better,  when  I  know  that  they  come  unstudied  from 
the  heart.  I  cannot  describe  to  you  how  much  I  value  such  a  sen- 
tence as  "  It  is  past  nine  o'clock  and  all  are  waiting  for  me  for 
prayers,  where  we  always  remember  '  him  in  a.  foreign  land.' "  It 
brought  the  warm  tears  to  my  eyes,  (I  can  hardly  see  now,)  pic- 
tured before  me — oh,  how  distinctly !  the  scenes  of  other  days, 
when  I  too  knelt  with  you,  and  when  my  voice  was  heard  among 
you.  I  could  see  again  the  quiet  room  with  its  cheerful  fire,  and 
the  table  with  its  well-remembered  cover  and  lamp,  and  the  family 
Bible  with  its  broken  binding,  and  each  familiar  face,  aye,  and  the 
accustomed  seat  in  which  each  one  sat.  I  could  hear  the  voice 
that  read ;  I  almost  fancied  I  could  join  in  the  fa\niliar  tune  that 
was  sung — and  so  I  can,  though  separated  from  you  by  half  the 
circumference  of  the  world.  The  praises  we  sing,  though  sung  on 
opposite  sides  of  the  globe,  ascend  to  the  same  gracious  God,  and 
the  prayers  we  offer  reach  the  same  mercy-seat,  and  the  same 
grace  that  sustains  you  is  sufficient,  more  than  sufficient,  for  me. 
Tell  Mrs.  C.  if  you  see  her,  that  it  has  greatly  cheered  me  to  hear 
that  her  prayers  have  been  offered  for  me,  for  I  have  learned  to 
place  a  high  value  on  the  prayers  of  others,  however  unknown 
they  may  be  to  the  world.  How  do  we  know  but  that  in  the 
world  to  come,  we  shall  find  much  of  our  usefulness  attributable 
to  the  prayers  of  those  who  remembered  us,  when  we  knew  not 
that  they  ever  thought  of  us. 

"  Little  Sam  is  gone,  and  you  are  gone,  and  soon  it  will  be  said, 
they  are  all  gone  ;"  and  if  soon,  why  regret  that  one  has  finished 
his  journey  a  few  hours  sooner  than  the  rest,  and  another  gone  by 


198  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

a  different  route  ?  Are  we  not  strangers  here,  and  do  not  stran- 
gers sojourn  but  a  short  time  in  the  land  of  their  pilgrimage,  and 
are  not  pleasant  companions  often  obliged  in  (heir  voyages  to  pur- 
sue different  roads?  When  the  journey  is  over,  we  will  recount 
our  toils,  and  how  we  have  been  led  by  ways  we  knew  not.  Oh, 
how  true  is  that !  I  have  been  led  like  a  blind  man,  by  a  way  I 
knew  not,  but  already,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  I  see  it  was  the  best 
way. 

My  journal  has  afforded  you  pleasure,  more  than  I  thought  it 
would ;  but  in  heaven  we  shall  need  no  journals,  and  shall  then 
rightly  estimate  the  importance  of  every  step  we  took.  We  shall 
then  see  through  what  dangers  we  have  passed,  when  we  least 
suspected  they  were  so  near ;  we  shall  see  how  an  angel  was  sent 
in  this  place  to  sustain  us,  and  in  that  an  evil  spirit  driven  away. 
We  shall  see  how  influences  that  we  did  not  dream  of  were  direct- 
ing our  course,  and  as  we  contemplate  the  wonderful  network  of 
our  history,  we  shall  more  and  more  admire  the  wisdom  and  good- 
ness of  Him  by  whom  our  bodies  were  so  "  curiously  wrought," 
and  our  actions  so  carefully  ordered.  We  shall  be  at  home  then, 
and  shall  "go  no  more  out." 

How  pleasant  is  the  Sabbath !  It  comes  to  me  in  this  heathen 
land,  to  tell  me  that  even  here  God  is  gracious ;  but  there  where 
one  unending  Sabbath  prevails,  there  shall  be  no  painful  sights 
of  unhallowed  desecration,  no  strivings  with  inbred  sin,  no  weari- 
ness ;  we  shall  go  no  more  out,  nor  wish  to  go,  for  there  is  fulness 
of  joy  in  the  presence  of  God.  and  at  his  right  hand  are  pleasures 
for  evermore.  I  sometimes  feel  as  if  I  did  not  want  to  live  any 
longer;  surely  "I  would  not  live  always  ;"  but  when  I  look  round 
and  see  these  poor  heathen,  I  think  that  perhaps  I  may  do  some- 
thing. I  am  willing  to  stay,  and  when  I  think  of  Him  who  hath 
done  so  much  for  me,  I  am  dumb.  Here  am  I,  Lord ;  do  with  me 
as  thou  wilt. 

But  I  must  close  for  the  present. 

Affectionately  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  May  17th,  1843. 
MR.  JOHN  LLOYD — 

MY  DEAR  JOHN  : — Your  long,  long  expected  letter  reached  me 
eight  or  nine  days  ago.  I  was  very  glad  indeed  to  hear  from  you, 
for  I  had  not  expected  to  be  sixteen  months  without  a  letter  from 
my  old  crony.  But  no  matter,  I'll  pay  you  for  it  when  you  come 
out  here.  I  shall  expect  to  see  you  jn  China  before  the  end  of 
next  year,  without  fail.  The  various  items  of  your  letter  were 
very  satisfactory  to  me,  as  they  recalled  many  old  associations. 
I  proceed  to  answer  some  inquiries  you  have  made.  ...  As  to  the 
Chinese  climate,  I  have  not  as  yet  sufficient  experience  to  speak 
fully  about  it.  I  have  been  nearly  a  year  here,  and  during  that 


LETTERS.  199 

time  have  not  had  one  day's  sickness,  and  have  taken  only  one 
dose  of  medicine.  I  think  it  probable,  however,  that  new  comers 
will  be  liable  to  fever  and  ague  in  most  of  the  new  ports,  until 
they  become  acclimated.  The  heat  of  summer  is  great ;  the  ther- 
mometer now  ranges  above  80° ;  but  it  is  not  as  bad  as  that  of 
India,  and  we  have  cool  and  bracing  winters.  There  is  not  com- 
monly any  frost  or  snow  in  this  latitude,  or  at  Amoy,  but  ice  and 
snow  are  both  found  at  Chusan,  Ningpo,  and  Shanghae,  where  I 
think  we  shall  have  our  principal  stations. 

As  to  the  language,  I  suppose  it  pretty  certain  that  the  Chinese 
is  the  hardest  language  in  the  world,  except  the  Japanese  ;  which 
is  harder,  because  one  must  learn  Chinese  in  order  to  learn  Japan- 
ese. But  then  a  good  many  considerations  remove  the  terror  that 
some  of  the  Singapore  missionaries  were  so  anxious  to  excite  on 
this  subject.  1.  The  language  has  been  learned,  and  spoken 
fluently  and  intelligibly,  though  not  of  course  perfectly,  by  a  num- 
ber of  persons  within  the  last  forty  years  ;  and  I  have  yet  to  learn 
that  any  one  of  those  persons  possessed  any  remarkable  talent  for 
learning  languages.  My  impression  is,  that  not  one  of  them  pos- 
sessed such  a  talent  to  any  great  degree.  2.  The  facilities  for 
learning  the  language,  in  the  way  of  elementary  books  and  free 
access  to  the  people,  are  vastly  better  than  they  were  twenty  years 
ago ;  and  every  year  they  are  getting  better.  3.  The  dialects 
spoken  in  the  north,  are  said  to  be  easier,  decidedly,  than  those 
spoken  in  Canton  and  Fokeen  provinces ;  and  it  has  been  with 
the  dialects  of  the  two  latter,  that  foreigners  have  been  most  con- 
versant. Several  of  those  who  have  learned  Chinese,  were  over 
thirty  years  of  age  before  they  commenced  it;  two,  I  believe,  were 
over  forty  ;  yet  they  are  making  progress.  I  have  not  made  any 
"  considerable  attainments"  yet.  Owing  to  my  various  wanderings, 
of  which  you  have  heard  somewhat,  it  was  six  months  after  I  got 
here,  before  I  began  to  study  regularly.  I  have  now  been  study- 
ing regularly  for  about  six  months.  I  can  read  easy  sentences  ; 
can  talk  a  very  little  with  my  teacher ;  and  I  look  forward  with 
hope  to  the  future.  Yesterday  I  told  my  teacher  that  the  Chinese 
was  a  hard  language  to  learn,  and  I  feared  it  would  take  me  four 
or  five  years  to  talk  it  well.  He  said,  no,  it  was  not  hard ;  and 
that  in  one  year  I  should  be  able  to  converse  satisfactorily.  I  told 
him  he  was  flattering  me  ;  but  he  said,  "  No,  I  am  a  very  old  man, 
why  should  I  flatter  you'/"  So  I  said  no  more.  I  only  believe  the 
half  of  what  he  says  ;  but  even  that  is  better  than  I  expected.  At 
first  the  study  was  prodigiously  dry — worse  than  anything  I  ever 
undertook ;  but  now  I  begin  to  feel  a  good  deal  of  interest  in  it. 
Come  out  and  study  with  me,  and  I  can  give  you  a  good  deal  of 
assistance.  I  am  obliged  to  study  with  almost  no  assistance  from 
others,  as  the  Pekin  dialect,  to  which  my  attention  is  now  directed, 
is  not  attended  to  by  any  of  the  missionaries  whom  I  have  access 
to.  With  your  talents,  I  know  you  need  not  be  afraid  to  com- 
mence the  language.  Tell  Hugh  Brown  I  expect  him  to  come 


200  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

here  also ;  and  I  wish  you  would  turn  the  attention  of  Br.  Cul- 
lii-rtson  to  this  field.  A  person,  however,  who  does  not  make 
pretty  reasonable  progress  in  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew,  had  bet- 
ter not  come  to  China  for  the  present.  The  case  may  be  different 
a  few  years  hence,  when  a  greater  variety  of  missionary  labor  can 
be  employed  than  is  at  present  practicable. 

I  am  serious  when  I  say  that  I  wish  you  and  Brown  and  Cul- 
bertson  to  regard  this  letter  as  a  direct  call  to  each  of  you  to  take 
China  into  careful  consideration  before  you  conclude  to  go  else- 
where; and  I  trust  you  will  be  well  satisfied  that  it  is  your  duty 
to  do  so,  if  you  decline  coming  here.  I  would  not  speak  so  deci- 
dedly if  I  did  not  think  I  had  grounds  for  my  opinion  ;  but  know- 
ing you  three,  and  this  field  as  well  as  I  do,  I  think  it  has  very 
strong  claims  upon  you. 

I  recommend  you  to  learn  the  radicals  immediately,  so  as  to  be 
able  to  write  the  whole  of  them  off,  and  give  the  name  and  mean- 
ing of  each,  without  once  looking  on  the  book.  You  will  find  it 
of  incalculable  advantage.  I  speak  from  experience.  I  also  ad- 
vise that  by  all  means  you  learn  to  speak  in  the  way  that  — 
recommends,  i.  e.,  by  using  the  abdominal  and  intercostal  muscles. 
I  am  convinced  that  if  you  do  so,  it  will  facilitate  your  progress  in 
the  most  difficult  part  of  the  spoken  language,  the  tones.  The 
reason  why  we  find  it  so  hard  to  use  the  Chinese  tones  easily,  is 
because  of  our  habit  of  using  the  lungs  instead  of  the  abdominal 
and  intercostal  muscles.  I  wish  I  had  known  this  in  America. 
The  time  you  spend  in  learning  this  will  be  by  no  means  lost, 
while,  if  you  neglect  it,  I  fear  you  will  always  regret  it. 

But  it  is  past  ten  o'clock,  and  I  must  close  for  the  night.  Would 
that  I  could  see  you.  Pray  for  me  ;  but  I  know  you  do  so,  and  I 
thank  you  for  it.  It  does  not  surprise  me  to  hear  that  I  have 
fallen  into  the  general  mass,  and  only  come  in  under  the  general 
prayer  of  "  Lord  bless  the  missionary."  It  was  to  be  expected. 
But  there  are  a  few  who,  I  trust,  will  not  so  soon  forget  me.  The 
Lord  ever  be  with  you,  and  keep  you,  is  the  prayer  of  your 
friend  and  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  May  27th,  1843. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

One  yWr  ago  to-day  I  landed  in  Macao.  How  it  has  flown 
away  !  It  seems  but  as  yesterday  when  I  left  the  ship,  feeling 
that  I  was  a  stranger  going  into  a  strange  place,  and  my  heart 
almost  sunk  within  me  at  the  prospect  before  me.  It  seems  but 
as  yesterday  when  I  found  myself  suddenly  among  friends  who 
had  been  anxiously  expecting  me.  The  long  and  tedious  voyage 
in  the  Sea  Q,ueen  is  like  a  dream  of  the  night  that  quickly  passed 
away  ;  the  sojourn  in  Manila  like  a  tale  that  is  told  ;  the  re- 
membrance of  the  shipwreck  in  the  Harmony,  and  the  storm  in 


LETTERS.  201 

the  long-boat,  returns  only  to  call  forth  feelings  of  gratitude.  I 
thought  after  that,  that  my  mountain  would  stand  strong ;  but  it 
was  not  so.  I  thought  I  might  hope  for  many  years  of  pleasant 
intercourse  with  a  colleague  in  the  mission,  but  in  a  few  days  he 
will  have  left  the  country.  How  rapidly  have  the  last  five  months 
passed  away !  If  the  time  to  come  flies  as  rapidly,  I  shall  not 
soon  think  myself  an  exile.  But  I  do  not  feel  like  one,  for  things 
around  begin  to  wear  a  familiar  face,  and  though  they  may  never 
excite  all  the  emotions  that  some  remembered  scenes  do,  yet  here 
would  I  live. 

I  have  felt  a  great  deal  more  of  satisfaction  since  receiving  an- 
swers to  my  letters  from  China.  It  seems  now  as  if  a  real  corres- 
pondence had  commenced,  and  helps  me  to  judge  better  how  the 
time  passes.  It  gave  me  quite  a  new  idea  to  think  that  I  had  re~ 
ceived  letters  dated  three  months  after  my  shipwreck. 

Ever  truly  yours,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  June  30th,  1843. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

The  treaty  between  England  and  China  was  formally  ratified 
on  Monday  of  this  week  (23d)  at  Hong  Kong.  A  great  deal  of 
hilarity  and  good  feeling  was  said  to  prevail ;  and  the  English 
officers  predict,  with  the  utmost  confidence,  the  permanence  of  the 
friendship  thus  commenced.  It  is  our  prayer  that  it  may  be  so  ; 
but  I  have  judged  incorrectly  of  the  Chinese  character  if  they  do 
not  now  feel  very  sore  on  the  subject.  You  will,  of  course,  hear 
the  most  contradictory  reports  on  this  subject.  It  is  one  on  which 
even  here  it  is  almost  impossible  to  form  a  correct  judgment.  It 
is  sometimes  amusing  to  hear  with  what  perfect  scorn  the  English 
scout  at  the  idea  of  the  Chinese  ever  taking  arms  against  them 
hereafter ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  some  of  our  American  resi- 
dents, and  some  of  the  best  informed  among  them,  predict  with 
almost  equal  certainty  the  speedy  rupture  of  the  present  treaty. 
I  am  inclined  to  think  the  truth  lies  between  the  two.  As  long 
as  the  opium-smuggling  continues — which,  I  suppose,  will  be  as 
long  as  men  love  money  more  than  they  fear  God, — there  will  be 
occasions  of  difficulty.  How  these  difficulties  are  to  be  settled,  will 
depend  very  much  on  the  officers  whom  the  British  Government 
and  other  foreign  nations  may  send  out ;  but  it  is  too  much  to 
hope  that  they  will  always  be  settled  peaceably.  It  is  a  great 
comfort  to  be  persuaded  thjat  the  Lord  reigneth,  and  that  he  holds 
the  hearts  of  the  kings  in  his  hands.  If  I  may  conjecture  as  to 
the  future,  it  is  that  there  will  be  great  changes  in  China  ere  long. 
I  do  not  see  how  it  can  be  otherwise.  The  new  influences  that 
must  now  be  brought  to  bear  upon  them ;  the  new  and  strange 
sentiments  that  must  now  disturb  the  long-settled  train  of  their 
thoughts  ;  the  various  impressions  of  foreign  men  and  foreign 
things,  .that  must  now  circulate  through  the  land,  slowly,  perhaps, 


202  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

but  certainly,  cannot  but  excite  thought;  and  God  only  knowa 
where  it  will  end.  "  I  will  overturn,  overturn,  overturn ;  and  it 
shall  be  no  more :  until  he  come  whose  right  it  is,  and  I  will  give 
it  him."  In  the  mean  time,  while  the  field  is  open,  let  us  enter  in  ; 
while  the  ground  is  ploughed  up,  let  us  cast  our  seed  with  a  lib- 
eral hand.  We  may  not  see  its  growth,  but  the  word  of  the  Lord 
shall  not  return  unto  him  void.  There  can  be  no  fears  as  to  the 
final  result,  though  we  can  know  but  little  of  the  intermediate 

steps 

Your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  July  20th,  1843. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

....  I  find  myself  obliged  to  confess  that  the  warm  weather 
has  its  effects  upon  me.  For  a  month  after  it  commenced  I  felt  as 
strong  and  as  much  disposed  to  study  as  ever ;  but,  for  the  last 
two  weeks,  I  do  not  feel  able  to  sit  at  my  books  nearly  so  con- 
stantly as  before,  nor  to  take  such  long  walks  as  usual.  I  have 
lost  a  good  deal  of  my  appetite,  and  they  all  tell  me  I  look  pale, 
and  thinner  than  usual.  Such  is  the  worst  side  of  the  picture  ;  on 
the  other  hand,  I  am  not  sick,  not  low  spirited,  suffer  no  manner 
of  pain,  can  read  and  write,  and  laugh  and  talk  as  usual,  and  do 
anything  that  does  not  require  long  and  close  mental  effort.  I  sleep 
soundly,  and  the  time  passes  away  rapidly.  I  don't  expect  to  do 
much  studying  for  a  couple  of  months  to  come.  I  had  hoped  to 
be  on  my  way  to  visit  Amoy  and  Chusan  ere  this,  but  have  not 
yet  found  a  suitable  vessel,  nor  do  I  know  of  any.  If  one  does 
not  offer  soon,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  postpone  it  till  some  time  in 
September  or  October.  .  .  . 

Your  journal  of  a  day  interested  me  very  much.  I  would  give 
you  something  of  the  kind  in  return,  but  am  really  so  ashamed  of 
each  day's  work  for  the  present  week,  that  I  would  rather  not.  I 
managed  to  keep  up  what  little  I  know  of  Chinese,  and  to  add  a 
little  to  my  stock ;  to  read  some ;  and  write  some ;  to  take  a  walk 
every  day ;  and  to  preach  once  a  week  to  the  English  and  Ameri- 
can residents.  As  I  have  not  yet  brought  myself  to  read  other 
men's  sermons,  I  have  commonly  to  prepare  one  every  week.  This 
takes  a  good  deal  of  time  and  thought,  and  I  sometimes  feel  as  if 
I  ought  not  to  do  it,  as  the  strength  thus  employed  could  be  used 
in  fitting  myself  for  my  missionary  life.  Yet  as  there  are  some 
who  seem  to  feel  an  interest  in  attending,  and  as  I  am  the  only 
minister  here,  it  does  not  seem  right  to  neglect  them  altogether.  I 
should  like  to  be  among  the  Chinese. 

Your  suggestions  about  a  Chinese  dictionary  are  important,  but 
[  hardly  know  what  to  say  in  regard  to  them ;  it  will  be  time 
enough  for  me  to  think  of  such  a  thing,  when  I  can  call  myself  a 
Chinese  scholar. '  I  make  no  pretensions  to  that  name  now,  nor 


JOURNAL   TO   AMOY   AND   CHUSAN.  203 

can  I  even  guess  when  I  shall  deserve  it ;  and  if  I  ever  do  deserve 
it,  I  may  prefer  some  other  kind  of  labor,  besides  dry  dictionary 
making.  Still,  I  consider  it  a  duty  to  keep  something  of  the  kind 
in  view.  You  of  course  will  not  mention  that  I  do  so,  as  I  do  not 
wish  it  to  be  known.  The  thought  that  I  may  perhaps  be  of  some 
assistance  in  that  way,  is  one  thing  which,  with  others,  induces 
me  to  study  the  Mandarin,  and  to  prefer  one  of  the  northern  ports. 
I  cannot  tell  you,  my  dear  father,  how  much  I  value  your  let- 
ters. The  spirit  of  kindness  and  affection  they  breathe,  is  to  me 
most  truly  refreshing  and  delightful,  and  I  sometimes  almost  feel 
as  if  it  was  worth  while  to  be  separated  from  you  in  order  to  enjoy 
them.  But  I  do  not  altogether  give  up  the  hope  of  seeing  you  again, 
though  I  have  little  expectation  of  seeing  you  in  the  United  States. 
When  I  get  into  my  own  house  at  Ningpo,  or  some  other  regular 
Chinese  place,  I  mean  to  send  you  and  mother  a  special  invitation 
to  come  and  see  me.  I  rather  think,  too,  that  you  will  find  it  hard 
to  refuse  my  invitation.  With  many  affectionate  thoughts  of  you, 
and  of  all  the  members  of  our  beloved  family,  I  remain  as  ever, 

Your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


JOURNAL    TO   AMOY   AND   CHUSAN. 

It  appeared  very  desirable,  that  some  member  of  our  mission 
should  visit  the  ports  of  China,  recently  opened  for  foreign  com- 
merce, and  make  inquiries  as  to  their  suitableness  for  missionary 
operations.  Accordingly,  I  made  such  arrangements  as  would 
allow  me  to  be  absent  from  Macao,  for  about  two  months ;  and 
having  engaged  a  passage  in  an  English  vessel  going  up  the  coast, 
I  left  Macao  in  the  latter  end  of  August,  expecting,  as  the  wind 
was  then  favorable,  to  reach  Chusan  in  ten  days.  We  were,  how- 
ever, very  unnecessarily  delayed  several  days  in  Hong  Kong ;  and 
after  getting  out  to  sea,  found,  to  our  surprise,  that  the  vessel  was 
very  badly  provided  for  a  sea  voyage,  having  no  chronometer  on 
board,  and  a  very  insufficient  supply  of  water  and  provisions.  We 
succeeded  in  reaching  Amoy,  and  went  some  distance  beyond  it ; 
but  having  been  detained  too  long  in  Hong  Kong,  the  monsoon 
changed  before  we  could  reach  Chusan,  and  our  ill-provided  vessel 
was  unable  to  make  headway  against  it.  After  beating  for  several 
days  and  making  no  progress,  we  found  our  provisions  were  run- 
ning short,  and  seeing  no  prospect  of  soon  accomplishing  our 
voyage,  the  passengers  requested  the  captain  to  return  to  Amoy. 
This  was  done,  and  the  time  for  which  I  had  made  arrangements 
to  be  absent,  being  now  more  than  half  elapsed,  I  thought  it  better 
to  spend  a  few  days  in  Amoy,  and  then  to  return  to  Macao,  rather 
than  to  attempt  to  proceed  against  the  monsoon  to  Chusan,  which 
would  have  been  not  only  tedious,  but  very  uncomfortable.  In 
consequence  of  this  disappointment,  it  was  not  possible  to  gain  all 


204  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

the  information  that  was  desired — still,  however,  many  things  of 
an  interesting  nature  came  under  my  observation,  and  perhaps 
the  best  way  of  presenting  them,  will  be  to  give  them  as  they 
stand  in  a  journal  kept  at  the  time. 

August  26th.  Left  Macao  in  the  morning,  in  the  schooner 
Thomas  Crisp.  She  is  to  call  at  Hong  Kong,  stop  a  day  at  Arnoy, 
and  then  proceed  to  Chusan.  The  price  of  passage  for  the  whole 
voyage  is  one  hundred  dollars.  There  was  quite  a  strong  wind 
shortly  after  we  left  Macao,  and  the  weather  becoming  very  misty, 
we  could  not  see  our  course  among  the  islands,  and  were  obliged 
to  anchor  at  the  western  end  of  Lantas,  about  twenty  miles  from 
Macao.  We  remained  at  anchor  nearly  twenty-four  hours. 

August  27th.  Sabbath — a  beautiful  day,  and  a  favorable  wind 
— reached  Hong  Kong  about  three  o'clock. 

The  vessel  should  have  sailed  on  Monday,  but  was  very  unne- 
cessarily delayed  until  Thursday  morning.  Having  occasion  to 
go  about  from  one  part  of  Hong  Kong  to  the  other,  and  not  wish- 
ing to  expose  myself  to  the  sun  and  rain,  which  at  this  season  of 
the  year  must  be  carefully  avoided,  I  engaged  a  boat  to  be  at  my 
complete  control,  (for  a  dollar  a  day.)  The  boat  was  long  and 
narrow,  being  perhaps  fifteen  feet  in  length  and  six  in  width  in 
its  broadest  part ;  it  had  one  mast  with  a  mat  sail,  which  could  be 
raised  or  lowered  in  a  moment.  It  was  owned  by  a  man  and  his 
wife,  who  made  it  their  home,  and  gained  their  living  by  carrying 
passengers  and  going  of  errands.  They  form  part  of  the  boat 
population,  which  is  so  remarkable  a  feature  in  the  aspect  of  this 
part  of  China.  At  Macao,  Hong  Kong,  and  many  other  places  in 
the  Canton  province,  and  particularly  at  the  city  of  Canton  itself, 
there  are  immense  numbers  of  people  who  spend  their  whole  lives 
on  the  water.  They  are  considered  by  those  who  live  on  shore  as  an 
inferior  race,  and  are  scarcely  allowed  to  form  connections  by  mar- 
riage, except  among  themselves.  The  size  of  their  boats  varies 
very  much,  though  the  greater  part  of  them  are  much  smaller 
than  the  one  I  had  now  engaged.  At  Whampoa  I  have  seen  hun- 
dreds of  their  boats,  each  the  habitation  of  a  family,  that  were 
not  more  than  ten  feet  in  length  and  five  in  breadth.  In  these 
they  are  born — here  they  live — they  marry  and  are  given  in  mar- 
riage, and  here  they  die.  The  number  of  people  dwelling  in  boats 
in  the  river  near  Canton,  is  estimated  at  near  one  hundred  thou- 
sand. Their  boats  are  called  Tan-kea  boats,  or  egg-house  boats, 
because  when  covered,  as  they  usually  are,  with  a  mat  roof,  they 
bear  a  great  resemblance  in  shape  to  an  egg.  As  may  be  sup- 
posed, they  are  generally  a  very  degraded  and  ignorant  race,  and 
their  ideas  on  religious  subjects  of  the  very  lowest  order.  Yet, 
there  is  not  one  of  these  boats,  however  poor  in  other  respects,  that 
has  not  its  little  shelf  or  little  apartment  with  an  idol,  and  a  cen- 
ser—or if  too  poor  for  that,  at  least  a  bit  of  red  paper  with  mys- 
tical characters  inscribed,  and  a  few  glittering  ornaments,  before 
which  incense  sticks  are  daily  burned. 


JOURNAL    TO   AMOY    AND   CHUSAN.  205 

The  boat  I  had  engaged  had  a  covering  over  the  central  part, 
beneath  which  the  family  slept.  In  front,  the  man  stood  to  row, 
and  behind  there  was  space  for  four  or  five  persons  to  seat  them- 
selves comfortably,  besides  allowing  the  woman  room  to  scull  -the 
boat.  Underneath  this  part  were  the  cooking  utensils,  fire-place, 
and  provisions ;  in  the  house  was  a  little  cupboard,  perhaps  two 
feet  square,  and  a  roll  of  mats  for  a  bed,  and  beneath  the  front 
part,  where  the  man  stood,  was  a  place  to  hold  wood  and  water. 
The  back  part  where  the  passengers  sit  is  covered  with  a  mat 
awning,  forming  an  excellent  shelter  from  sun  and  rain,  and  allow- 
ing a  free  circulation  of  air.  When  the  wind  was  favorable,  they 
hoisted  the  sail  and  the  woman  steered.  When  there  was  no 
wind,  the  man  rowed  and  the  woman  sculled. 

They  had  two  children,  one  a  boy  about  three  years  old,  and 
the  other  a  girl  of  seven  months.  The  boy  had  no  playmates, 
few  playthings,  and  but  lit.tle  playground,  yet  he  seemed  quite 
happy  and  contented.  Sometimes  he  sat  by  his  mother  and  gazed 
at  the  passenger  ;  sometimes  he  took  the  little  hatchet  and  chop- 
ped wood  or  hammered  a  stone ;  and  sometimes  he  lay  down  in 
the  little  house  and  slept.  But  his  chief  amusement  was  to  stand 
by  his  father  when  rowing,  and  lean  upon  the  oar.  He  thus  ac- 
quired without  effort  all  the  motions  necessary  in  rowing.  He 
was  especially  delighted  to  stand  on  a  little  footstool  and  have  it 
turn  over  and  throw  him  down,  and  when  he  succeeded  in  falling 
he  laughed  most  joyously.  By  way  of  precaution,  a  piece  of  light 
wood  was  attached  to  his  back,  to  keep  him  afloat  if  he  should 
chance  to  fall  overboard.  As  for  the  little  girl,  her  mother  strap- 
ped her  on  her  back,  and  there  she  hung,  her  bare  legs  dangling 
out,  and  her  head  swinging  to  and  fro  with  the  motion  of  her 
mother's  body  as  she  sculled  the  boat.  The  couple  seemed  quite 
happy,  and  were  very  civil  and  obliging.  I  frequently  left  articles 
worth  many  times  more  than  all  the  compensation  they  expected 
from  me,  for  hours  together  in  their  boat,  and  never  lost  anything. 

August  31st.  Got  under  way  from  Hong  Kong  about  nine 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  but  having  light  and  unfavorable  winds,  made  very 
slow  progress.  Obliged  to  come  to  anchor  at  night  opposite  Chek 
Chu,  on  the  southern  side  of  the  island. 

Hong  Kong  is  a  small,  irregularly-shaped  island.  Its  entire 
circumference  is  about  twenty-seven  miles,  and  a  more  hilly,  rocky 
place,  can  hardly  be  imagined.  It  seems  on  first  sight  almost  im- 
possible to  discover  a  place  suitable  for  a  residence,  and  it  is  only 
by  cutting  down  the  hills  and  levelling  the  ground,  that  suitable 
building  sites  can  he  obtained.  This  levelling  of  the  ground  is 
one  of  the  causes  of  the  great  expensiveness  of  building  in  Hong 
Kong ;  for  it  frequently  costs  from  three  hundred  to  a  thousand 
dollars  merely  to  remove  the  stones  and  prepare  the  ground  for 
building.  The  great  reason  why  this  island  was  selected  by  the 
English,  is  found  in  the  harbor,  which  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
world.  It  was  first  taken  possession  of  in  January,  1841 — and 


206  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

was  officially  acknowledged  by  the  Chinese,  and  received  by  the 
English,  as  a  dependency  on  the  British  crown,  in  June,  18 13.  Its 
population  when  taken  possession  of  at  first  was  about  four  thou- 
sand ;  but  it  very  soon  increased  wonderfully,  on  account  of  the 
demand  for  laborers  on  the  roads  and  houses,  and  the  shops  that 
were  established.  Its  present  population  must  be  near  twenty 
thousand,  who  are  principally  of  the  lower  orders,  though  there 
are  some  of  the  more  respectable  classes,  and  their  numbers  are 
said  to  be  increasing.  It  is  to  be  feared  that  the  island  of  Hong 
Kong  itself  will  never  be  a  very  good  place  for  direct  missionary 
labors  ;  but  its  Commercial  importance,  and  the  large  number  of 
natives  residing  in  the  neighboring  islands,  and  on  the  shores  of 
the  main  land  adjoining  it,  will  always  make  it  an  object  of  im- 
portance to  have  at  least  one  station  there.  Nor  should  it  be  for- 
gotten, that  Hong  Kong  is  in  a  manner  the  key  of  Canton  prov- 
ince, which  contains  a  population  of  nineteen  millions  of  inhabi- 
tants,— being  more  than  the  whole  population  of  the  United  States. 
Should  China  be  thrown  more  widely  open  than  it  now  is,  (and  he 
who  has  opened  it  so  wide  already  can  as  easily  open  it  wider,)  all 
this  vast  number  of  people  will  be  accessible  to  the  missionary, 
and  it  is  chiefly  from  the  stations  at  Hong  Kong,  that  they  must 
be  supplied. 

During  the  voyage  from  Hong  Kong  to  Amoy  we  passed  in 
sight  of  three  of  the  great  opium  depots  along  the  coast.  These 
three  were  Tong-san,  How-tow-san,  and  Namoa.  At  these  three 
places,  the  opium  dealers  in  Canton  and  Macao,  have  ships  con- 
stantly stationed  to  keep  supplies  of  opium,  and  to  them  the 
smaller  vessels,  or  "  opium  clippers,"  as  they  are  called,  resort  for 
cargoes,  which  they  carry  to  different  parts  of  the  coast  and  dispose 
of  always  for  silver.  The  number  of  vessels  employed  in  this 
traffic  is  very  great.  A  single  mercantile  house  in  Canton  and 
Macao,  employs  about  fifty  vessels,  ships,  barks,  brigs  and  schoon- 
ers, while  another  house  has  thirty  or  more.*  These  vessels  carry 
almost  nothing  but  opium,  and  receive  almost  nothing  in  return 
but  silver.  The  laws  of  the  Chinese  against  the  introduction  of 
opium  are  very  severe,  but  at  present  they  are  a  mere  dead  letter.; 
the  opium  smugglers  laugh  at  them,  and  carry  their  vile  drug  reck- 
lessly to  all  parts  of  the  coast,  where  it  is  purchased  by  the 
Chinese,  and  carried  into  different  parts  of  the  country.  The 
Chinese  officers  themselves,  instead  of  striving  to  prevent  its  intro- 
duction, connive  at  it.  being  frequently  bribed  for  that  purpose  by 

*  The  amount  of  capital  embarked  in  the  opium  trade  is  enormous,  as  may  be  judged 
of  from  the  number  of  vessels  employed.  The  smallest  of  these  vessels  probably  costs 

the  owners  upwards  of  $5,000  annually.     A  schooner  like  the  or costs 

from  800  to  1200  dollars  a  month  merely  for  her  sailing,  i.  e.  wages,  wear  and  tear ; 
so  that  the  annual  expense  of  one  of  the  least  of  these  messengers  of  evil,  is  greater 
than  the  whole  expenses  of  our  mission  in  any  year  since  its  commencement ;  while 
the  brigs,  barks,  and  ships  cost  still  more.  This  is  merely  for  wages  of  the  men  and 
officers,  and  the  wear  and  tear  of  the  vessel,  and  is  exclusive  of"all  the  money  ex- 
pended in  purchasing  the  opium,  storing  it,  and  packino-  and  repacking 


JOURNAL   TO   AMOY   AND    CHUSAN.  207 

the  smugglers.  One  of  the  very  greatest  difficulties  in  the  way  of 
Christian  missions  in  China,  arises  from  the  prevalence  of  the  use 
of  opium  ;  and  it  is  to  be  feared  that  it  will  long  continue  in  the 
way.  When  a  man  acquires  a  taste  for  opium,  there  is  nothing  he 
will  not  do  to  gratify  it ;  and  its  use  is  most  deleterious.  It  injures 
his  bodily  health,  it  stupefies  his  mental  powers,  and  it  deadens  his 
moral  feelings,  and  when  the  habit  of  using  it  is  once  con  firmed, 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  abandon  it.  The  fondness  for  opium  is 
one  of  the  strong  chains  in  which  Satan  has  bound  this  great 
people,  and  it  is  a  heart-sickening  reflection,  that  this  evil  luxury 
is  supplied  to  them  by  the  merchants  of  the  two  nations  which 
profess  to  be  actuated  by  the  purest  Christianity.  It  is  almost  im- 
possible to  find  a  vessel  going  up  the  coast,  which  does  not  carry  it. 

September  5th.  Reached  Amoy,  and  was  received  with  a  hearty 
welcome  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Abeel  and  Dr.  Gumming.  They  were 
the  only  missionaries  then  residing  at  Amoy.  or  rather  at  Ku- 
langsu,  which  is  a  beautiful  little  island  not  more  than  one-fourth 
of  a  mile  from  Amoy.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Boone  of  the  American 
Episcopal  Board,  and  Rev.  Mr.  McBryde  of  our  Board,  were  both 
at  this  station  for  some  time,  but  have  been  obliged  to  return  to 
the  United  States  on  account  of  ill  health.  It  is  the  expectation 
of  each  of  them  to  return  again,  if  health  be  restored. 

In  the  evening  after  reaching  Kulangsu,  Dr.  Gumming  and 
myself  went  over  to  Amoy  to  see  the  place.  We  crossed  from 
Kulangsu  to  Amoy  for  ten  cash  a-piece,  (it  takes  eleven  or  twelve 
cash  to  make  a  cent.)  The  boats  in  the  Fuhkeen  province  are 
few  compared  with  those  in  the  Canton  province,  and  are  not  at 
all  to  be  compared  with  the  latter,  either  for  beauty,  neatness  or 
comfort.  The  men  in  the  small  row-boats  here  reverse  the  usual 
order  of  proceedings,  for  they  stand  up  in  the  stern  of  the  boats 
to  row,  and  place  the  passengers  in  the  middle  and  bow  of  the 
boat.  The  floating  population  in  this  province  is  small,  and  the 
boats  are  seldom  rowed  by  women.  The  people  in  general 
seemed  to  have  more  prominent  cheek-bones  and  flatter  noses 
than  those  I  had  seen  in  other  parts  of  China ;  perhaps  their  flat 
noses  give  them  some  advantage  in  uttering  the  abundant  nasal 
sounds  of  the  Fuhkeen  dialect. 

We  went  first  through  several  streets  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city, 
then  into  the  city  itself  and  walked  half  round  it  on  the  city  Wall, 
which  is  wide  enough  for  three  or  four  persons  to  walk  abreast, 
and  returned  to  Kulangsu  a  little  after  dark.  "  Multitudes,  multi- 
tudes," was  the  impression  that  forced  itself  upon  me  in  walking 
through  the  crowded  streets,  and  looking  out  over  the  close-built 
environs  of  this  great  city.  The  suburbs  are  much  larger  than 
the  city  itself,  and  most  of  the  merchants'  shops  are  there.  Each 
street,  both  within  the  city  and  in  the  suburbs,  is  closed  at  each 
end  by  gates  every  night ;  all  are  narrow,  and  all  are  dirty.  It 
is  hardly  possible  for  foreigners  to  live  in  the  close  filthy  quarters 
generally  occupied  by  the  Chinese.  We  can  live  in  houses  like 


208  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

theirs  >vith  but  little  difficulty,  but  their  position  is  generally  low 
and  damp,  and  their  being  so  dirty  and  so  closely  crowded  to- 
gether, combine  to  render  them  unhealthy. 

There  is  but  little  luxury  observable  in  Amoy,  or  splendor  in 
their  shops,  like  that  seen  in  Canton,  where  the  foreigners  have 
so  long  resorted.  Almost  all  that  was  exposed  for  sale  consisted 
of  the  necessaries  of  life,  articles  to  eat  and  drink  and  wear. 
There  were  but  few  women  in  the  streets,  but  many  of  them 
gazed  at  us  from  the  back  doors  of  the  houses  as  we  passed.  It 
seems  to  be  an  almost  universal  custom  in  this  province  for  the 
females  to  wear  flowers  in  their  hair  ;  the  custom  is  not  so  preva- 
lent in  Canton  province.  If  we  stopped  a  moment  in  the  streets, 
crowds  gathered  around  us.  The  children  clapped  their  hands, 
and  the  men  gathered  around  us  to  examine  our  dress,  and 
seemed  especially  to  admire  my  stature,  but  all  were  perfectly 
civil.  We  stopped  to  ask  the  price  of  a  picture.  "  A  dollar  and 
a  half,"  was  the  ready  answer.  "  Oh,  no  !"  said  another,  "  don't 
you  see  they  are  teachers."  "  Well  you  may  have  it  for  one 
hundred  and  fifty  cash,"  equal  to  twelve-and-a-half  cents  ! 

The  country  back  of  Amoy  consists  almost  entirely  of  hills,  the 
bleakest  and  stoniest  I  ever  saw.  Except  in  the  little  secluded 
valleys,  not  a  tree  nor  a  blade  of  grass  was  to  be  seen  ;  but  in 
every  little  valley  where  there  was  fresh  water  and  a  few  trees, 
there  were  sure  to  be  villages,  and  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the 
valleys  did  the  villages  increase  in  size.  The  green  rice  fields  at 
the  foot  of  the  bare  and  barren  hills  contrasted  beautifully  with 
the  rocka  around  them.  The  population  of  Amoy  is  variously 
estimated,  but  two  hundred  thousand  for  the  city  and  the  suburbs 
in  its  immediate  vicinity,  is  the  most  common,  and  probably  the 
most  correct  estimate.  The  number  of  villages  in  sight  from. 
Kulangsu  is  wonderful.  Whence  does  all  this  vast  population 
draw  its  subsistence,  for  the  country  around  does  not  appear  capa- 
ble of  sustaining  the  tenth  part  of  those  who  live  here?  Partly 
from  the  sea,  partly  from  commerce,  and  partly  from  the  interior 
of  the  country  which  receives  many  foreign  commodities  from 
Amoy.  The  Fuhkeen  men  are  the  New  Englanders  of  China, 
and  their  vessels  make  long  voyages,  going  to  all  parts  of  the 
Chinese  coast,  to  Manila,  to  Borneo,  to  Singapore  and  to  Java, 
but  not  often  venturing  as  far  as  India.  A  great  part  of  the  rice 
used  in  other  provinces  is  imported  from  the  island  of  Formosa, 
which  lies  about  seventy  miles  to  the  eastward. 

Nine  opium  ships  were  anchored  close  alongside  of  Amoy, 
and  also  two  vessels  that  had  no  opium  on  board.  I  was  told, 
on  good  authority,  that  every  man  in  Amoy  who  could  afford  to 
buy  opium  was  in  the  habit  of  smoking  it.  The  Chinese  officers 
make  no  effort  whatever  to  prevent  its  introduction,  and  I  saw 
opium  pipes  openly  exposed  for  sale  in  the  streets.  A  few  years 
ago  it  would  have  been  almost  as  much  as  a  Chinaman's  life  was 


AMOY.  209 

worth,  to  have  been  detected  in  the  sale  of  anything  used  in  con- 
suming the  prohibited  article. 

The  next  morning  (Sept.  7)  Mr.  Abeel  and  myself  rose  early 
for  a  walk  round  the  island  of  Kulangsu.  It  is  about  three  miles 
long,  not  quite  a  mile  broad,  and  is  wonderfully  diversified  with 
hill  and  dale.  Small  as  it  is,  I  have  never  seen  so  many  beauti- 
ful prospects  in  the  same  space.  Every  hill-top  is  crowned  with 
black  and  naked  rocks,  while  every  spot  of  ground  that  can  be  cul- 
tivated is  used  (or  rather  was  used,  for  the  Chinese  are  not  now 
allowed  to  reside  on  the  island,  while  it  is  occupied  by  the  Eng- 
lish troops,)  either  for  houses,  or  rice  grounds,  or  tombs.  The  pop- 
ulation, previously  to  its  being  occupied  by  the  British,  has  been 
commonly  estimated  at  five  thousand,  but  judging  from  the  houses 
still  standing,  and  the  ruins  of  those  torn  down,  I  should  say,  this 
was  a  very  moderate  estimate.  There  may  have  been  eight  or 
ten  thousand  persons,  and  from  the  style  of  the  houses,  it  may  be 
inferred  that  many  of  the  wealthier  inhabitants  of  Amoy  had 
their  common  residences  on  this  island.  There  are  a  number  of 
noble  banyan  trees,  and  my  impressions  of  the  island  were  very 
favorable. 

It  was  beautiful  exceedingly.  Perhaps  it  appeared  more  beau- 
tiful from  its  dissimilarity  to  the  bare  and  rugged  hills  of  Hong 
Kong  and  Macao,  but  it  reminded  me  strongly  of  many  scenes 
long  since,  perhaps  forever,  passed.  It  was  melancholy  to  see 
the  ruined  houses,  and  to  meet  the  English  soldiers  at  every 
step,  for  they  told  of  violence  and  war.  It  was  sad  to  look  upon 
these  multitudes,  all  accessible,  full  three  hundred  thousand 
souls,  who  might  be  visited  by  the  missionary  between  sunrise 
and  nightfall,  without  his  ever  spending  a  night  from  home,  and 
instructed  about  the  way  of  life  ;  but  who  is  there  to  break  to 
them  the  bread  of  life  ?  One  poor  almost  broken-down  minister, 
and  one  physician,  who  with  stammering  lips  set  before  them  the 
way  of  truth.  Dr.  Cumming's  time  is  fully  taken  up  in  attend- 
ing to  the  cases  of  disease  that  are  brought  to  his  house,  and  Mr. 
Abeel  daily  converses  with  them,  and  distributes  religious  tracts, 
besides  having  a  service  on  the  Sabbath  for  all  who  choose  to 
come.  The  attendance  on  Sabbath  varies  from  thirty  to  eighty, 
and  the  names  and  objects  of  the  missionaries  are  now  well  known, 
and  they  are  treated  with  much  favor  both  by  the  rulers  and  the 
common  people. 

Infanticide  is  very  common  in  this  province ;  very  many  in- 
quiries have  been  made  by  the  missionaries,  and  all  the  testimony 
goes  to  prove  that  it  prevails  to  a  fearful  extent.  It  is  not  saying 
too  much  to  affirm,  that  in  the  districts  around  Amoy,  one-fifth, 
or  one-sixth  of  the  children  perish  by  the  hands,  or  with  the  con- 
sent of  their  parents.  One  poor  man  said  to  Mr.  Abeel  with  an 
air  of  the  greatest  simplicity  and  sincerity,  "  Teacher,  before  you 
came,  I  killed  five  of  my  children  ;  I  would  not  do  it  now,  for  you 
have  showed  me  that  it  is  wrong,  but  before  you  came  I  did  not 

14 


210  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

know  that — who  was  there  to  tell  me  ?"  Alas !  who  was  there 
to  tell  him?  The  opium  smugglers  are  dealing  their  poison  all 
around,  but  very  rarely  does  a  missionary  appear  amongst  them, 
and  those  who  do  come,  have  difficulties  to  contend  with  as  they 
sit  upon  the  damp  tiled  floors  of  the  native  houses,  and  breathe 
the  unwholesome  air  of  the  swampy  fields,  such  as  rarely  enter 
into  the  minds  of  those  who  dwell  in  their  ceiled  houses,  and  talk 
in  their  own  native  language. 

1  visited  the  grave  of  Mrs.  Boone.  It  is  in  a  beautiful  quiet 
garden,  a  little  tree  stands  at  the  foot,  and  an  immense  banian 
spreads  its  shade  over  the  whole.  She  died  August  30,  1842.  It 
was  a  time  of  sadness  and  sorrow  when  that  first  member  of  the 
missionary 'band  here  fell ;  but  I  could  not  regard  her  lonely  grave 
in  any  other  light  than  as  a  pledge  that  the  kingdom  shall  yet  be 
the  Lord's.  For  not  alone  shall  that  Christian  wife  and  mother 
sleep  here ;  others  of  the  missionary  circle  shall  also  toil,  and  lie 
down  here,  and  around  them  shall  sleep  those  saved  by  their 
means,  and  sooner  or  later  we  shall  look  upon  graves,  even  in 
this  heathen  land,  with  the  same  feelings  of  calm  and  joyful  hope 
with  which  we  behold  them  in  Christian  lands.  May  the  Lord 
hasten  that  time !  for  it  is  a  sorrowful  thought  as  we  look  upon 
the  countless  graves  that  throng  every  hill-side  around  us,  "  Not 
one  of  all  these  myriads  ever  heard  the  name  of  Christ— where 
now  are  their  souls?"  It  was  a  pleasant  thing  in  my  native  land 
to  go  to  the  grave-yard  on  Saturday  evenings,  or  the  Sabbath 
morning,  and  sit  upon  the  tombs,  and  think  of  heaven  ;  but  I 
cannot  do  that  in  China. 

We  left  Amoy  on  Thursday,  September  7,  about  noon,  and  after 
beating  out  some  six  or  seven  miles,  had  a  "  slashing  breeze"  in 
our  favor.  Our  course  lay  to  the  north-east,  along  the  coast  of 
China,  too  far  off  to  see  minute  objects,  but  near  enough  to  dis- 
tinguish its  outline  and  general  features.  From  Hong  Kong  to 
Amoy,  a  distance  of  over  three  hundred  miles,  the  coast  is  re- 
markably rocky,  bold,  and  mountainous,  hardly  a  plain  was  to 
be  seen.  But  immediately  after  passing  Amoy  the  appearance  of 
the  coast  changed.  It  became  level  with  gentle  elevations  and 
depressions,  and  this  lasts  for  nearly  two  hundred  miles,  when  it 
resumes  its  rocky  character.  I  could  scarcely  take  my  eyes  away 
from  the  first  of  the  gently  rising  hills  that  was  seen.  It  was  so 
different  from  all  that  I  had  witnessed  for  nearly  twenty  months, 
and  reminded  me  so  strongly  of  objects  seen  in  my  own  native 
land,  that  it  required  but  little  stretch  of  fancy  to  cover  the  scene 
with  the  peaceful  homes,  and  smiling  villages,  and  solemn  churches 
of  America.  But,  alas,  how  different  the  reality  !  Multitudes, 
multitudes  of  immortal  beings,  but  all  ignorant  of  the  truth  !  An 
opium  clipper  followed  us  out  of  Amoy,  and  being  a  faster  sailer 
than  we,  soon  passed  us  on  her  way 'to  Chimmoo  Bay,  another 
great  opium  depot.  It  reminded  me  sadly  of  the  truth  that  the 
men  of  this  world  are  wiser  in  their  generation  than  the  children 


JOURNAL    PROM    AMOY.  211 

of  light.  But  I -found  consolation  where  I  had  not  looked  for  it. 
We  were  sailing  on  the  wide  sea.  The  whole  expanse  of  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  with  its  unfathomed  depths  and  uncounted  waves, 
was  rolling  on  our  right,  and  its  waters  washed  the  shores  of  the 
most  populous  empire  on  the  earth.  Behold  !  "  The  earth  shall 
be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  the  Lord  as  the  waters 
zover  the  seas"  Hab.  iii.  14.  What  though  men,  for  the  sake  of 
gain,  follow  practices  that  injure  their  fellow-men,  and  impede  the 
progress  of  the  Gospel,  it  shall  not  always  be  so  ;  for  thus  saith 
the  Lord,  "  They  shall  not  hurt  nor  destroy  in  all  my  holy  moun- 
tain ;  for  the  earth  shall  be  {jull  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as 
the  waters  cover  the  sea,"  Isaiah  ix.  11.  With  such  an  assurance 
from  such  a  source,  what  more  do  we  want  to  confirm  our  faith 
and  encourage  our  hope  ? 

Friday,  September  15.  When  within  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  of  Chusan  the  monsoon  changed,  and  after  beating  about  for 
several  days,  and  making  no  progress,  we  anchored  at  the  Island 
of  San-pan-shan,  in  order  to  replenish  our  water-casks,  and  wait, 
if  perhaps  the  weather  might  become  more  moderate.  The  island 
of  San-pan-shan  is  in  north  lat.  28  deg.  5  min.,  and  east  long.  122 
deg. 

The  passengers  went  ashore  to-day  for  a  stroll  over  the  island, 
and  at  the  beach  where  we  landed,  we  found  about  a  hundred  men 
collected.  They  spoke  a  dialect  that  none  of  us  understood,  and 
our  only  intercourse  with  them  was  by  signs,  and  the  few  Chinese 
words  we  could  pick  up.  There  were  twelve  or  thirteen  small 
Chinese  vessels,  junks  as  they  are  here  called,  in  a  little  cove  on 
the  side  of  the  island  opposite  where  we  had  anchored,  which  had 
probably  gone  there  to  escape  the  bad  weather.  We  saw  about 
two  hundred  persons  in  all,  a  part  of  whom  doubtless  belonged  to 
the  junks  in  the  little  bay.  I  doubt  whether  the  whole  population 
of  the  island  amounts  to  one  hundred  persons  ;  there  were  very 
few  women,  and  very  few  children.  The  people  seemed  to  be  very 
poor ;  dwelt  in  miserable  huts,  and  raised  a  very  few  vegetables  ; 
there  were  no  rice-fields,  but  there  were  plenty  of  sweet  potatoes, 
which  seemed,  indeed,  to  be  almost  the  only  vegetable  cultivated. 
I  suppose  the  people  were  principally  fishermen  ;  they  were  of 
small  stature,  and  very  dark  complexion,  and  spoke  a  dialect  much 
resembling  the  Fuhkeen. 

The  island  is  small,  and  of  a  crescent  shape :  it  is,  perhaps,  two 
miles  in  length,  and  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  breadth,  with  two 
or  three  smaller  islands  near  it.  Its  foundation  is  the  solid  granite 
rock,  which  is  quite  bare  for  many  feet  above  low  water  mark. 
Like  all  Chinese  islands  that  I  have  yet  seen,  it  is  hilly  ;  but  the 
hills,  though  high,  are  not  quite  so  abrupt  as  those  on  the  islands 
farther  south.  On  the  top  of  the  very  highest  hill  was  a  heap  of 
stones  piled  up  and  about  four  feet  high.  When  or  why  built  I 
had  no  means  of  ascertaining. 

Just  above  our  landing-place,  and  near  the  principal  collection 


212  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

of  huts,  was  an  idol  temple,  dedicated  to  Ma-tsoo-po,  a  favorite 
Chinese  goddess.  There  was  nothing  remarkable  about  it,  except 
its  filthiness,  and  two  figures  about  two-thirds  the  size  of  men, 
standing  on  a  block  of  wood  near  the  door.  They  were  painted 
black,  with  red  and  glaring  eyes,  and  horribly-distorted  mouths, 
all  begrimed  with  smoke  of  incense-sticks,  and  dirt ;  they  were  fit 
representations  of  the  horrid  charac.er  of  him  whom  this  deluded 
people  worship.  There  were  several  brazen  incense-stands  on 
the  altar,  one  of  which  I  wished  to  take  away,  but  the  people 
would  not  allow  of  it.  "  No,  it  was  Ma-tsoo-po's."  I  would  give 
a  good  deal  to  be  able  to  transport  Che  two  black  images  as  they 
are,  to  the  Mission  House  in  New  York. 

In  one  of  the  huts  a  dozen  men  were  busy  gambling  :  so  intent 
were  they  on  their  game,  that  they  scarcely  looked  at  us  as  we 
passed,  though  they  had  probably  never  seen  a  foreigner  in  their 
lives  before.  Here,  as  everywhere  else,  the  people  knew  the  for- 
eigners only  by  what  is  evil.  One  of  the  men,  who  seemed  a  little 
more  respectable  than  the  rest,  and  to  whom,  after  making  sure 
that  he  could  read  it,  I  gave  a  Chinese  tract,  finding  I  knew  a  little 
Chinese,  asked  me  something  1  did  not  understand.  He  then  in- 
vited me  into  his  hut,  begged  me  to  be  seated,  and  wrote  down  in 
Chinese  the  question.  "  How  do  you  sell  your  opium  ?"  Two  or 
three  men  were  smoking  opium  at  the  time.  As  well  as  I  could, 
I  expressed  my  dislike  and  abhorrence  of  the  practice,  and  went 
out,  greatly  to  his  surprise.  Going  past  the  temple,  as  we  went 
back  to  our  boat,  I  looked  in  again,  and  there  were  six  or  eight 
people  stretched  on  the  floor,  and  drawing  away  at  their  opium 
pipes ;  some  of  them  were  already  half  stupefied  by  it,  and  the 
place  was  filled  by  the  fumes  of  the  sickening  drug.  Popery  and 
opium  will  be  the  great  opponents  of  the  missionaries  in  China. 
There  is  not  a  place  to  which  we  can  go,  where  the  opium-dealer 
has  not  already  gone,  and  there  is  no  moral  sentiment  in  China  to 
second  the  efforts  of  her  rulers  to  banish  the  baneful  luxury  from, 
her  borders.  I  could  almost  fancy  that  the  horrible  images  in  the 
idol  temple  looked  with  complacency  on  the  prostrate  forms  of  the 
smokers  at  their  feet ;  and  sure  I  am  that  the  ruler  of  the  spirits 
of  darkness  and  evil  rejoices  in  the  diffusion  of  opium  in  China. 

Wednesday,  September  27th.  Finding  that  our  vessel  was  in  no 
condition  to  beat  against  the  monsoon,  and  that  our  prospect  of 
reaching  Chusan  in  her  was  very  poor,  we  reluctantly  turned 
about,  and  arrived  at  Amoy  yesterday.  It  is  a  mysterious  dispen- 
sation of  providence,  but  doubtless  He  who  holds  the  winds  in  his 
fist  has  wise  ends  in  view,  in  disappointing  my  hopes  :  "What  I 
do  thou  knowest  not  now,  but  thou  shall  know  hereafter." 

Sitting  in  Mr.  Abeel's  house  this  morning,  about  a  dozen  very 
respectably-dressed  Chinese  from  Tung-an,  the  capital  of  this  dis- 
trict, came  in.  After  making  some  remarks  to  them  on  the  nature 
of  the  Christian  religion,  and  of  the  plan  of  salvation,  to  which 
they  listened  with  interest,  interspersing  remarks  of  their  own  by 


JOURNAL    AT    AMOY.  213 

the  way,  he  asked  them  of  their  customs,  particularly  in  regard  to 
infanticide.  One  man  said  they  "  destroyed  more  than  half  the 
female  children,"  (the  boys  they  never  kill.)  The  rest  of  the  com- 
pany corrected  this,  saying,  "No,  formerly  we  did,  but  now  we 
destroy  about  one  out  of  three."  This  is  the  common  answer 
given  by  hundreds  of  persons.  As  soon  as  a  girl  is  born,  if  they 
do  not  wish  her  to  live,  she  is  suffocated.  Want  of  natural  affec- 
tion, and  an  unwillingness  to  encounter  the  expense  of  supporting 
the  children,  are  the  reasons  for  this  cruel  procedure.  They  ac- 
knowledge it  to  be  cruel,  but  seldom  seem  to  think  it  is  wrong.* 

September  28.  Walked  out  before  sunrise  to  the  top  of  the  high- 
est hill  in  Ku-lang-su.  It  is  crowned  by  several  rocks,  two  of 
which  are  of  great  size ;  one  of  them  is  more  than  one  hundred 
feet  long,  at  least  eighty  feet  broad,  and  eighty  feet  high,  all  above 
ground.  The  view  from  the  top  would  have  embraced  the  whole 
circumference  of  the  horizon :  but  not  being  able  to  reach  it,  I  was 
obliged  to  content  myself  at  its  base  ;  still,  by  changing  my  posi- 
tion, I  could  see  on  all  sides.  The  hills  of  the  main  land,  and  of 
the  islands  in  sight,  rose,  as  they  always  do  in  this  part  of  China, 
steep,  bare,  and  barren ;  and  the  spots  of  fertile  ground  were  few 
and  comparatively  small.  But  wherever  a  clump  of  trees  grew,,  a 
village  was  sure  to  be  seen.  I  counted  more  than  twenty  villages, 
all  in  full  view,  and  none  more  than  ten  or  twelve  miles  distant: 
besides  the  city  of  Amoy  itself,  all  of  these  are  perfectly  accessible 
to  the  missionary ;  he  may  go  to  any  of  them  without  let  or  hin- 
derance,  and  preach  or  distribute  books,  and  for  the  present  at 
least,  he  will  be  sure  of  crowds  of  attentive  hearers.  There  is 
very  little  that  is  inviting  in  the  appearance  of  Chinese  towns. 
The  houses  are  all  low,  and  few  or  none  are  distinguished  by  any 
architectural  beauty.  They  are  built  without  taste,  and  it  is  sel- 
dom that  any  flowers  are  cultivated  by  the  sides  of  the  poorer  peo- 
ple's houses  ;  they  are  commonly  built  so  close  together,  that  at  a 
short  distance  you  see  nothing  but  the  weather-worn  roofs,  but 
occasionally  some  beautiful  scenes  meet  the  eye.  I  scarcely  know 
a  more  romantic  spot  than  the  Western  village,  on  the  island  of 
Ku-lang-su.  Just  fancy  a  little  valley  containing  several  acres 
of  ground,  rather  long,  and  opening  out  like  a  fan,  hemmed  in  on 
all  sides  but  one  by  steep  and  rocky  hills,  and  facing  a  sheet  of 
water  studded  with  islands.  It  has  several  noble  banian  trees, 
and  fifty  or  sixty  Chinese  houses  very  neatly  built,  and  dispersed 
at  the  foot  of  the  hills,  between  the  trees.  The  houses,  however, 
are  now  uninhabited,  and  most  of  them  are  in  a  sad  state  for  want 
of  attention. 

The  Chinese  do  not  use  gunpowder  in  blasting  rocks,  but  split 
the  largest  of  them  simply  by  the  use  of  wedges.  I  saw  a  rock 
that  had  been  split  in  two,  and  the  part  that  remained  was  fifty 
feet  long  and  thirty  feet  high. 

*  See  the  Chinese  Repository  for  Oct.  1843. 


214  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

Took  a  boat  and  went  to  see  a  Budhist  temple  some  two  or  three 
miles  south-east  of  Amoy.  It  stands  at  the  foot  of  the  high  ridge 
of  hills  running  from  the  city  of  Amoy  into  the  interior  of  Amoy 
island,  and  is  about  half  a  mile  from  the  shores  of  the  bay.  In 
front  of  the  temple  is  an  inclosure  containing  four  open  buildings, 
in  each  of  which  are  two  gigantic  stone  tortoises  six  feet  long  and 
four  feet  broad.  Each  tortoise  supports  a  white  stone  tablet,  tea 
feet  high  and  four  feet  broad,  and  covered  one  with  Chinese  and 
the  other  with  Tartar  inscriptions ;  the  Chinese  characters  are 
certainly  very  well  adapted  for  inscriptions,  and  I  have  rarely  seen 
any  specimens  of  cutting  in  stone  so  beautifully  executed  as  these 
are.  The  purport  of  the  inscriptions  seemed  to  be  maxims  and 
moral  sentences ;  but  as  to  their  particular  meaning,  I  forbear  to 
interpret  it.  Directly  behind  these  tablets  was  the  entrance  of 
the  temple,  with  all  its  array  of  dingy  paintings,  grotesque  carving 
and  queer  dragons  above  the  door.  On  entering,  the  first  object 
seen  was  a  gilt  statue  of  Budh,  of  gigantic  size,  with  a  green  veil 
over  the  window  of  the  inclosure  where  he  was  seated.  Behind 
him  was  another  gigantic  image,  and  on  either  side  were  two 
other  giants ;  on  one  side  a  male  and  a  female  with  a  guitar  in 
her  hand,  and  on  the  other  side  a  female,  and  a  black  and  horrid- 
looking  male  attendant.  Each  statue  is  said  to  be  eighteen  feet 
high,  and  of  one  solid  stone.  I  did  not  think  them  so  high,  and 
thought  they  were  made  of  clay ;  but  a  railing  in  front  prevented 
a  close  examination.  Passing  beyond  the  gilt  image,  there  was 
an  open  court  with  four  trees  ;  on  each  side  of  the  court  was  a 
square  tower,  the  second  story  of  one  of  which  contained  a  drum, 
and  of  the  other  a  bell.  Beyond  these,  and  in  a  line  with  them, 
were  two  long  galleries,  each  containing  nine  gilt  images  of  Chi- 
nese sages,  some  of  which  were  decorated  with  blue  beards.  Be- 
tween the  two  galleries  was  an  octagonal  tower,  the  upper  part 
of  which  was  composed  of  a  large  number  of  pieces  of  wood  carved 
of  various  shapes,  with  painting  and  gilding,  and  dragons  and 
images  scattered  about.  The  roof  was  supported  by  eight  stone 
pillars,  round  each  of  which  twined  an  immense  dragon.  The  in- 
terior of  the  temple  contained  a  number  of  images,  the  principal 
of  which  was  Kwante,  seated  on  the  lower  half  of  an  immense 
pine-apple,  with  a  gilded  frame  behind  her  resembling  the  rays 
behind  the  Speaker's  chair  in  the  capitol  at  Washington.  She 
was  surrounded  by  half  a  dozen  other  images,  large  and  small  ; 
incense  was  constantly  burning  before  her,  and  on  a  frame  nu- 
merous printed  prayers  were  suspended.  Behind  this  tower  were 
three  apartments,  stretching  across  the  whole  breadth  of  the  tem- 
ple, and  in  each  of  them  were  three  images,  one  principal  and  two 
subordinates.  One  of  the  principal  images  was  Kwante,  another 
was  Ma-tsoo-po  ;  the  name  of  the  third  1  did  not  learn.  Here  we 
were  met  by  two  of  the  priests,  pale  in  countenance,  dressed  in 
white,  and  of  rather  pleasing  manners.  Only  one  of  them  said 
anything,  but  he  was  quite  talkative.  They  gave  us  tea  without 


JOURNAL    AT   AMOY.  215 

sugar  or  milk,  and  promised  to  call  at  the  mission  house  in  Amoy, 
after  which  we  left  them. 

Near  this  temple,  I  saw  what  is  rather  uncommon  in  China, 
regularly-inclosed  graveyards.  There  were  a  great  many  unin- 
closed  tombs  all  around,  but  here  were  three  graveyards ;  each  of 
them  had  a  large  tomb  in  the  centre,  and  a  great  many  of  com- 
mon appearance  regularly  arranged  around,  completely  filling  up 
the  inclosed  spaces.  The  bury  ing-grounds  were  all  small,  but 
extremely  full.  The  largest  was  only  one  hundred  feet  square, 
and  yet  it  had  three  hundred  and  fifty  graves  in  it,  all  of  which 
seemed  to  be  of  about  the  same  age.  It  is  not  known  to  foreign- 
ers, and  not  to  any  Chinese  of  whom  we  made  inquiries,  who  are 
buried  there.  The  inscriptions  at  the  entrance  of  each  would  per- 
haps tell,  but  it  requires  time  and  patience  to  copy  and  translate 
them.  Just  within  the  entrance  of  each  was  a  stone  with  the  in- 
scription fuh  shin,  happy  spirits  !  Alas  !  are  they  happy?  None 
were  children's  graves. 

October  1,  Sabbath.  In  the  morning  attended  Mr.  Abeel's  Chi- 
nese service  ;  about  twenty  were  present,  which  is  a  smaller  num- 
ber than  usual.  Among  them  was  a  Budhist  priest,  and  several 
very  respectably-dressed  gentlemen.  Most  of  them  attended  well. 
In  the  evening  preached  to  the  soldiers  ;  owing  to  the  sickness 
prevailing  at  present,  the  congregation  was  small ;  only  about 
seventy  were  present,  yet  it  was  the  largest  number  I  have 
preached  to  at  one  time  since  leaving  New  York. 

October  2,  Monday.  Monthly  Concert  to-night.  I  conducted  the 
services  and  made  the  first  prayer,  then  read  Psalm  Ixviii.,  and 
made  some  remarks  on  the  frequency  with  which  the  promises  of 
the  conversion  of  the  world  are  followed  by  glorious  ascriptions  of 
praise  to  God,  as  shown: — Ps.  Ixviii.  31,  32,  Is.  xliv.  23,  and  xlix. 
12,  13.  Mr.  Roberts  then  prayed,  and  made  some  remarks  on  the 
necessity  of  faith  in  Christ,  and  of  entire  dependence  on  his  grace, 
rather  than  trusting  in  feelings  and  frames  of  mind.  We  sang  a 
hymn,  and  Mr.  Abeel  prayed.  It  was  a  pleasant  time. 

JOURNAL    TO    CHANG-CHOW. 

October  3.  Mr.  Abeel  and  I  have  been  talking  for  some  days  of 
making  an  excursion  into  the  interior,  some  thirty  or  forty  miles, 
and  to-day  we  went  off  to  engage  a  boat.  There  are  so  many 
rivers  and  streams  along  the  coast  of  China,  and  the  Chinese  so 
commonly  live  near  the  water,  that  almost  all  travelling  is  in 
boats.  Hence  the  expression,  Haou  fung  shwuy,  literally  mean- 
ing a  fair  wind  and  tide,  is  equivalent  to  saying,  "  Good  luck  go 
with  you,"  or  "  May  you  have  a  prosperous  time."  After  a  deal 
of  chaffering  and  bargaining,  and  being  almost  deafened  by  the 
noisy  Chinese  we  had  to  talk  with,  (when  talking  earnestly,  the 
common  people  actually  shout  their  words,)  we  arranged  with  an 
old  man  to  be  taken  to  Chang-Chow,  a  city  of  the  second  order, 


216  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

and  said  to  be  twice  as  large  as  Amoy,  for  three  dollars  and  a 
half.     One  of  our  Chinese  friends  promises  to  accompany  us. 

As  we  catne  back  from  the  boat,  we  met  a  whole  fleet  of  fisher- 
men coming  in  from  the  sea,  though  it  was  but  three  o'clock,  p.  M., 
and  the  day  was  fine.  It  seems,  however,  they  anticipated  bad 
weather,  and  came  into  the  harbor  for  shelter.  The  knowledge 
of  the  weather  possessed  by  Chinese  boatmen  is  really  wonderful, 
— one  of  them  is  almost  as  good  as  a  barometer.  Their  boats  had 
hardly  reached  Amoy,  before  it  began  to  blow  quite  fresh ;  and, 
doubtless,  out  at  sea  there  was  a  heavy  wind. 

Wednesday,  Oct.  4.  After  a  hasty  breakfast,  started,  and  our 
boat,  which  was  of  about  twenty  tons  burden,  got  under  weigh  at 
seven  o'clock.  The  tide  was  against  us,  but  the  wind  was  favor- 
able, and  we  speedily  reached  and  passed  Pagoda  Island,  which 
is  about  two  miles  west  of  Kulangsu.  Passing  the  island  on  the 
north,  we  entered  a  noble  bay,  some  ten  or  twelve  miles  long  from 
east  to  west,  and  four  or  five  in  breadth.  It  was  surrounded  on 
all  sides  by  the  high,  steep,  barren  hills,  so  common  in  Chinese 
scenery ;  with  plains  of  greater  or  less  extent  at  their  bases. 
From  the  deck  of  our  small  boat,  it  was  difficult  to  judge  correctly 
of  the  size  of  the  plains,  though  some  of  them  must  have  been 
large.  The  shores  of  the  bay  all  around  were  lined  with  villages, 
few  of  which  were  three  miles  apart ;  I  counted  more  than 
twenty,  and  our  boatmen  said  that  the  whole  number  was  above 
thirty.  Allowing  a  thousand  souls  to  each  village,  a  very  moder- 
ate allowance,  here  are  thirty  thousand  souls  around  the  borders 
of  that  bay.  Every  one  of  these  villages  is  perfectly  accessible 
to  the  missionary.  He  may  leave  Kulangsu  in  a  boat  after  break- 
fast, visit  any  one  of  them  he  pleases,  spend  an  hour  or  more, 
and  return  to  his  house  before  sunset.  Not  one  of  these  villages 
is  included  in  the  "  more  than  twenty,"  mentioned  under  date  of 
Sept.  28. 

Our  course  lay  directly  through  the  bay  from  east  to  west.  At 
its  western  extremity  we  found  several  immense  tracts  of  land 
reclaimed  from  the  waters,  and  occupied  as  rice-grounds.  A  river 
comes  down  from  the  north-west,  and  the  land  about  its  rnouth 
is  low  and  flat,  covered  with  water  at  high  tides,  and  dry  at  low 
tides.  The  greater  part  of  this  has  been  banked  in,  and  thus 
many  hundreds  of  acres  recovered,  and  made  highly  produc- 
tive, which  would  otherwise  have  been  a  barren,  noisome 
waste.  It  was  a  beautiful  sight  to  look  over  these  extended 
grounds,  with  the  little  canals  winding  through  them,  and  to 
see  the  smooth  green  fields,  with  the  large  trees  scattered  here 
and  there,  and  the  Chinese  houses  underneath.  A  few  buffaloes 
were  grazing  about,  or  rolling  like  swine  in  the  muddy  shores  of 
the  river,  and  several  Chinese  were  gathering  a  large  kind  of  rush 
which  grows  plentifully  on  the  river  banks.  It  is  dried  in  the  sun 
and  made  into  floor  mats,  and  similar  articles.  Some  idea  of  the 
quantity  gathered  may  be  learned  from  this  fact,  that  the  mats 


JOURNAL    TO    CHANG-CHOW.  217 

made  in  this  region  alone  are  sold  every  year  for  several  tens  of 
thousands  of  dollars.  The  western  end  of  this  bay  is  about 
twelve  or  fifteen  miles  from  Amoy.  The  river  which  enters  it 
comes  from  the  N.  W.  and  some  two  or  three  miles  from  its 
mouth  is  the  walled  town  of  Hai-teng,  which  is  on  the  left,  or 
southern  bank  of  the  river.  It  was  about  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  when 
we  passed  Hai-teng,  and  our  course  still  lay  up  the  river  to  the 
N.  W.  The  valley  of  the  river  was  low  and  flat,  and  not  very 
broad,  while  on  either  side  rose  the  steep,  bare,  unequally-elevated 
hills  that  mark  nearly  every  Chinese  prospect  I  have  yet  seen. 
Villages  uncounted  were  seen  in  every  direction,  noble  trees  and 
houses  among  them,  cattle  in  the  fields,  and  boats  in  the  river. 
Oh !  how  beautiful  it  was !  Four  or  five  miles  N.  W.  of  Hai- 
teng,  and  on  the  same  side  of  the  river,  was  the  town  of  Chobey. 
It  is  a  much  more  business-like  place  than  Hai-teng.  Numerous 
boats  were  in  the  river,  many  lumber-yards  were  along  the  banks, 
and  many  people  were  seen  in  every  direction.  On  the  opposite  bank 
of  the  river  is  a  collection  of  villages,  eighteen  in  number,  and 
known  by  the  general  name  of  Ota.  We  were  spied  by  a  good 
many  of  the  people  here,  who  crowded  down  to  the  banks  to  see 
us  as  we  passed. 

The  river  here  becomes  shallower,  and  the  boat  in  which  we 
had  come  thus  far  drawing  too  much  water,  we  entered  a  smaller 
one  to  proceed  the  rest  of  our  way.  It  was  about  the  size  of  a 
common  whale-boat,  had  a  square  mat  sail,  and  being  provided 
with  awnings,  was  very  comfortable.  The  wind  being  favorable, 
we  went  along  finely  ;  but  small  as  our  boat  was,  it  required  some 
knowledge  of  the  river  to  avoid  the  shallows,  and  we  touched 
the  bottom  several  times.  The  water  of  the  river  we  found  to  be 
delightfully  soft  and  sweet,  and,  as  the  Chinese  said,  it  was  ex- 
cellent for  making  tea.  The  river  had  no  general  name ;  alto- 
gether we  sailed  on  it  about  twenty  miles,  and  in  that  distance 
found  that  it  had  three  separate  names.  When  we  first  entered 
it,  it  was  called  the  Cho-bey  river ;  a  little  further  on,  the  Sanche, 
and  at  Chang-chow,  the  Nan-mun.  These  names  literally  trans- 
lated, are,  Stone-horse,  Three-branches,  and  Southern-gate ;  I 
have  since  seen  it  called  the  Chang-river :  this  name  is  given  to  it 
by  the  Jesuits  in  their  account  of  China. 

After  proceeding  about  five  miles  from  Cho-bey,  we  went  ashore, 
and  looked  about  a  little,  but  found  there  was  little  of  interest  to 
be  seen.  A  couple  of  coffins  with  dead  bodies  in  them,  were 
lying  in  the  open  air  under  the  shadow  of  some  trees.  They  were 
to  remain  there  until  a  propitious  day,  and  a  favorable  spot  for 
their  interment  should  be  found.  Bodies  are  thus  left  uninterred 
often  for  years  ;  one  of  these  coffins  had  been  so  long  exposed  that 
it  was  falling  to  pieces  for  very  age  ;  but  the  superstitions  of  the 
Chinese  do  not  allow  them  to  bury  their  dead,  except  at  lucky 
times,  and  in  places  pointed  out  by  their  astrologers.  It  is  prob- 
able, however,  that  the  astrologers  very  easily  find  a  place,  and 


218  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER   M.    LOWRIE. 

suitable  time,  for  the  burial  of  the  poor.  It  is  only  those  who  are 
able  to  pay  that  are  kept  waiting  so  long.  Rice-grounds,  fields  of 
sugar-cane,  and  brick  kilns  with  red  bricks,  (the  bricks  in  Canton 

Erovince  are  all  blue,)  were  nearly  all  we  saw.  We  stayed  ashore 
ardly  five  minutes,  and  yet  in  that  time  a  score  of  persons  were 
running  to  see  us.  Not  wishing  to  attract  attention  before  reach- 
ing Chang-chow,  we  pushed  off  and  proceeded.  Brick  kilns  now 
became  very  numerous  on  each  side  of  the  river;  the  bricks  are 
tolerably  well  made,  and  are  about  as  thick  and  as  long  as  those 
made  in  the  United  States,  but  rather  broader.  A  great  article 
of  manufacture  at  these  kilns  is  the  tile,  which  is  very  extensively 
used  for  the  floors,  and  entirely  for  the  roofs  of  houses  in  China. 
Those  for  the  floors  are  from  eight  to  twelve  inches  square,  and 
nearly  an  inch  thick  ;  those  for  the  roofs  from  four  to  six  inches 
square,  and  not  quite  half  an  inch  in  thickness.  They  are  laid 
on  the  rafters  three  and  four  deep,  and  are  joined  with  a  little 
plaster;  but  the  work  is  commonly  unskilfully  done,  and  many 
of  the  nouses  are  leaky. 

The  greenness  and  beauty  of  the  fields  and  the  valleys,  which 
occasionally  extended  back  among  the  hills,  were  so  different  from 
the  barren  appearance  of  the  sea-coast,  as  to  call  forth  frequent 
expressions  of  surprise  and  delight.  We  passed  many  villages. 
Two  of  them  were  pointed  out  to  us  as  being  the  residence  of 
Roman  Catholics.  The  account  the  Pagan  Chinese  gave  us  of 
them,  was,  "  They  have  a  goddess  whom  they  worship,  and  whom 
they  call  the  '  Holy  Mother.1  "  The  Chinese  call  one  of  their 
own  favorite  divinities,  Ma-tsoo-po,  the  "  Holy  Mother."  What, 
then,  must  they  think  of  the  Christian  religion,  when  almost  the 
only  form  of  it  which  they  see,  allows  the  use  of  many  of  their 
own  ceremonies,  and  precisely  their  own  forms  of  speech  !  The 
similarity  between  the  Romish  and  Budhist  religions  is  so  great, 
that  some  of  the  early  Roman  Catholic  missionaries  to  China  could 
account  for  it  only  by  supposing  that  the  devil  had  induced  the 
Chinese  to  frame  a  religion  very  like  theirs  in  order  to  cast  suspi- 
cion and  discredit  upon  them !  These  Roman  Catholic  Chinese 
are  very  little  different  from  the  Pagans  around  them,  and  though, 
their  profession  of  the  Christian  religion  is  contrary  to  law,  yet  it 
is  overlooked  by  the  officers,  and  perhaps  is  unknown  at  Pekin. 
They  are  occasionally  visited  by  the  priests,  who  secretly  enter  the 
country,  and  hastily  visit  such  places  as  these  to  confirm  the  peo- 
ple in  their  faith. 

About  one  o'clock,  p.  M..  we  arrived  at  the  city,  with  but  little 
warning,  from  the  boats  or  other  appearances  indicating  a  large 
population,  that  we  were  near  it.  The  first  distinct  intimation  we 
had  of  being  near  it,  was  the  sight  of  a  long  high  bridge  over  the 
river.  A  number  of  the  people  on  shore  had  already  seen  us,  and 
by  the  time  we  landed,  quite  a  crowd  of  men  and  boys  gathered 
around  us.  They  were  civil,  but  evidently  greatly  astonished,  as 
we  were  almost  the  first  foreigners  who  had  ever  been  there. 


JOURNAL    AT    CHANG-CHOW.  219 

Two  small  parties  of  English  officers  had  gone  there  a  few  months 
previously,  but  one  of  them  was  not  allowed  even  to  enter  the 
city,  and  the  other  saw  only  a  very  small  part  of  it.  We  were 
the  first  Americans,  and  the  only  Protestant  missionaries,  who  had 
ever  been  there,  and  we  felt  some  little  anxiety  as  to  how  we 
should  be  received.  We  could  not  have  complained  of  the  officers 
if  they  had  utterly  refused  us  permission  to  enter,  or  had  even  in- 
sisted on  our  immediate  departure.  But  we  were  determined  to 
see  the  place,  and  make  inquiries  concerning  it,  if  we  could  peace- 
ably do  so.  Accordingly  the  boatmen  carried  our  luggage,  and 
our  Chinese  friend  conducted  us  through  the  suburbs  by  a  near 
cut,  and  we  were  soon  in  the  city.  He  then  led  us,  as  he  said, 
towards  a  house  appropriated  for  the  reception  of  officers  from  the 
other  provinces.  ^ 

It  was  soon  evident  that  we  were  something  "  uncommon." 
Numbers  of  people  came  in  with  us,  and  as  we  passed  through 
the  streets  and  were  discovered  by  those  ahead  of  us,  the  wonder 
and  the  crowd  increased.  Our  complexions  and  dress,  our  stature, 
and  my  spectacles,  at  once  drew  the  attention  of  everybody.  The 
shopkeeper  turned  away  from  his  customer,  the  carpenter  dropped 
his  plane,  and  the  shoemaker  his  last,  the  tailor  his  needle,  and 
the  apothecary  his  pill-box,  and  even  the  beggar  forgot  his  voca- 
tion ;  the  women  peeped  out  from  the  doors,  and  the  children  ran 
on  before  and  stopped  to  have  a  good  look  at  us ;  old  and  young, 
high  and  low,  were  filled  with  one  common  feeling  of  surprise,  and 
gazed  at  us  as  if  we  had  fallen  from  the  clouds. 

Our  guide  professed  to  know  the  road,  but  soon  showed  he  was 
ignorant  of  it ;  and  after  leading  us  through  several  crowded 
streets  in  the  hot  sun,  brought  us  at  last  to  a  little  low  dirty  tav- 
ern, instead  of  the  house  appropriated  to  the  reception  of  foreign 
officers,  where  he  had  intended  to  take  us.  However,  there  was 
no  help  for  it,  and  to  make  the  best  of  the  matter,  we  had  our 
dinner  prepared.  In  Chinese  taverns,  nothing  is  provided  except 
the  bare  walls,  the  traveller  being-  expected  to  carry  his  own 
bedding  and  procure  his  own  provisions,  though  the  landlord 
finds  a  place  to  cook,  and  perhaps  gives  some  little  assistance  in 
the  way  of  service.  On  going  into  the  house  we  shut  the  door  to 
keep  the  crowd  out,  but  they  were  not  so  easily  satisfied,  and 
being  old  and  crazy,  they  actually  broke  it  open.  One  of  us  was 
obliged  therefore  to  stand  by  it,  and  let  them  gaze  while  dinner 
was  in  course  of  preparation.  They  made  no  effort  to  molest  us, 
being,  on  the  contrary,  quite  good-humored  and  civil ;  but  cer- 
tainly in  all  my  life  I  never  was  so  stared  at  before.  One  man,  all 
smiles  and  politeness,  came  up,  and  begged  leave  to  examine  my 
dress,  at  the  various  parts  of  which  he  expressed  the  most  un- 
bounded admiration.  My  cap  was  much  better  than  his,  the  but- 
tons of  my  coat  were  kaho,  kaho,  very  much  better.  My  pockets 
were  an  admirable  device,  while  the  shoes  were  a  perfect  gem  ! 
He  was  even  proceeding  to  open  my  shirt-bosom,  and  pull  up  my 


220  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

pantaloons,  but  on  being  told  that  it  was  not  polite  to  do  so,  he 
desisted,  and  with  many  bows  and  smiles  departed. 

While  we  were  eating  our  rice  and  eggs,  in  came  an  officer 
with  a  crystal  button  and  peacock's  feather.*  He  was  rather  rude 
at  first,  and  made  a  very  slight  salutation.  He  spoke  only  the 
Mandarin,  or  Court  dialect,t  and  had  an  interpreter,  who  seemed 
to  be  his  principal  business-man,  and  with  whom  we  had  after- 
wards a  good  deal  of  intercourse.  He  was  an  active  man,  chewed 
a  great  deal  of  betel-nut,  which  made  his  mouth  always  red,  and 
was  exceedingly  polite.  Whenever  anything  was  said,  he  was  all 
smiles  and  attention,  shut  his  eyes  and  shook  his  head,  and 
laughed  most  heartily ;  he  could  stop  laughing,  too,  just  as  soon 
as  he  commenced,  and  could,  on  occasion,  assume  a  very  grave 
air  and  severe  tone.  On  the  whole,  I  liked  him  pretty  well.  The 
officer  asked  our  names,  profession,  age,  object  in  coming,  &c., 
and  advised  us  to  go  away  ;  but,  after  a  few  minutes'  conversa- 
tion, his  manner  changed  a  good  deal,  and  he  became  much  more 
polite,  and  was  even  curious  to  inspect  our  knives  and  forks,  and 
articles  of  dress.  While  we  were  engaged  with  him,  in  came  an- 
other officer,  a  tall,  slender,  gentlemanly  man,  and,  probably,  a 
Tartar.  He,  likewise,  wore  a  crystal  button;  his  robes  were 
beautifully  clean  and  neat ;  and  his  manners  were  exceedingly 
polished,  amounting  in  some  respects  almost  to  over-refinement. 
He  was  dressed  in  his  official  cap,  and  black  satin  boots,  which 
came  up  to  his  knees,  a  beautiful  blue  silk  robe  reaching  beneath 
the  knees,  and  over  this  a  dark  maroon -colored  silk-garment, 
reaching  to  the  waist,  with  bright  gold  buttons  in  front.  He  also 
had  six  or  seven  attendants,  one  of  whom  was  the  tallest  man  I 
have  seen  in  China.  He  was  over  six  feet  two  inches  in  height, 
and  appeared  quite  out  of  countenance  when  we  remarked  on  his 
stature.  The  Tartar  officer  bowed  to  us  most  politely,  and  beg- 
ged us  to  be  seated,  then  bowed  to  the  first  officer,  and  we  talked 
a  while.  Presently  in  came  a  third  officer,  bearing  a  gold  button, 
with  another  crowd  of  attendants.  One  of  the  attendants  carries 
a  note-book,  another  the  indispensable  tobacco-pipe,  a  third  an 

*  The  button  is  a  round  ball,  a  little  larger  than  a  pigeon's  egg.  on  the  top  of  the 
cap.  A  gold  (or  gilt)  is  the  mark  of  the  lowest  grade  ;°an  opake  white  one,  of  the 
second ;  and  a  crystal  button  of  the  third.  There  are  six  other  grades  still  higher, 
each  distinguished  by  different  colored  buttons.  The  peacock's  feather  is  a  bunch  of 
three  or  four  feathers  in  an  ivory  handle,  hanging  down  behind  from  the  rim  of  the 
cap,  which  is  commonly  given  as  the  reward  of  some  eminent  service.  This  man 
was  a  stout,  thickset  person,  with  mustaches,  and  half  a  dozen  attendants.  The  cap 
they  all  wore  was  the  summer  cap:  made  of  plaited  straw,  and  of  around  conical  shape, 
with  long  red  silk  threads  hanging  down  from  the  top  all  around.  His  differed  from 
those  of  his  attendants,  only  in  the  fineness  of  the  materials,  and  in  the  button  on  the 
top. 

f  All  the  civil  officers  speak  Mandarin.  They  are  never  appointed  to  office  in  their 
own  province,  and  frequently  cannot  speak  the  dialect  of  those  they  rule  over  ;  in  con- 
sequence an  interpreter  always  forms  part  of  their  train.  The  military  officers,  on  the 
contrary,  are  commonly  appointed  to  command  in  their  own  provinces,  perhaps  that 
they  may  fight  the  more  bravely,  since  it  is  "  pro  aris  et  focis,"  or  as  Joab  said,  "  let  us 
play  the  men  for  our  people,  and  for  the  cities  of  our  God." 


JOURNAL    AT    CHANG-CHOW.  221 

umbrella,  and  so  on.  This  man  was  of  moderate  size,  not  stout, 
of  a  cheerful  expression  of  countenance,  extremely  active,  and 
almost  fussy  in  his  manners.  There  was  quite  a  specimen  of 
Chinese  etiquette  on  his  entrance.  The  other  two  rose  up,  bowed, 
and  begged  him  to  be  seated  ;  he  in  like  mariner  bowed,  and  beg- 
ged them  to  be  seated.  They  bowed  again,  and  all  got  ready  to 
sit  down,  but  no  one  would  sit  down  first ;  after  standing  arid 
looking  at  each  other  till  I  could  not  refrain  from  a  smile,  they  all 
sat  down  together.  It  was  then  the  old  scene  over  again,  who 
we  were,  why  we  came,  what  we  wanted,  and  the  advice  to  be 
off,  it  was  against  the  law  for  us  to  come,  &c.  We  replied  we 
could  not  go,  for  we  wanted  to  see  the  city.  This  they  said  could 
not  be  allowed  without  the  consent  of  the  chief  local  magistrate, 
who  had  been  sent  for,  and  for  whom  it  was  necessary  to  wait. 

In  the  mean  time  the  attendants  got  their  pipes  ready  for  a 
smoke,  and  the  Tartar  officer  who  sat  next  me,  and  appeared  the 
most  collected  and  cool  of  the  whole  of  them,  very  politely  offered 
me  his.  I  begged  leave  to  decline,  whereupon  he  took  a  few 
whiffs  in  a  very  good  humor,  and  presently  with  a  graceful  bow 
went  out,  and  we  saw  him  no  more.  The  little  fussy  officer 
smoked  a  good  deal,  making  frequent  remarks  to  the  first  one,  to 
which  he  responded  briefly  but  politely.  While  waiting  for  the 
local  magistrate,  another  gold-buttoned  officer,  who  spoke  the  broad 
Pekin  dialect,  and  had  a  hard,  coarse,  cunning  face,  and  an  opake 
white-buttoned  officer  with  a  very  ordinary  cast  of  countenance, 
came  in.  They  smoked  and  talked,  and  Mr.  Abeel  gave  each  of 
them  a  tract,  which  they  received  very  politely.  The  crowd  at 
the  door  was  now  large,  and  as  the  officers'  attendants,  and  even 
the  officers  themselves,  had  very  little  command  over  them,  it  was 
evident  they  were  becoming  uneasy.  While  thus  engaged,  in 
came,  or  rather  rushed,  the  local  magistrate.  He  was  a  tall,  stout 
man,  wore  a  gold  button,  and  was  a  good  deal  excited.  He  was 
quite  rude  at  first,  did  not  salute  us  at  all,  and  scarcely  bowed  to 
the  five  officers  already  present,  but  began  in  a  loud  blustering 
tone  to  declaim  about  the  impropriety  of  our  coming  to  Chang- 
Chow,  of  its  being  contrary  to  the  treaty,  and  that  we  must  depart 
immediately.  Mr.  Abeel  remarked  mildly,  but  firmly,  that  though 
the  treaty  allowed  foreigners  to  trade  at  only  five  ports,  it  did  not 
forbid  their  going  elsewhere  ;  that  we  were  Americans ;  that  we 
were  well-meaning  persons,  who  did  not  come  to  trade,  but  to  look 
around,  see  the  country,  cultivate  friendly  feelings,  and  do  good. 
The  old  man  quite  altered  his  tone,  "  Oh  !  I  know  that  you  are 
men  of  politeness,  we  are  not  afraid  of  you  ;  but  if  you  come, 
others  will  make  it  a  precedent.  You  are  Americans,  and  the 
Americans  and  the  Chinese  are  all  the  same  as  so  many  brothers." 
He  then  gave  us  quite  a  rhapsody  on  the  Americans.  He  had 
been  to  Canton,  knew  them  well,  and  greatly  esteemed  them,  and 
wished  to  have  them  always  for  friends;  "Well,"  said  Mr.  A., 
"this  is  a  strange  way  to  treat  your  friends  and  brothers.  We 


222  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

come  to  see  you,  and  you  turn  us  away  without  allowing  us  to  be- 
come acquainted  with  you ;  as  to  our  coming  being  a  precedent 
for  others,  they  will  come,  whether  you  wish  it  or  not,  and  it  is 
better  to  have  '  men  of  politeness'  come  first,  rather  than  others." 
This  puzzled  the  old  man,  and  he  did  not  know  how  to  answer 
it.  At  last  he  proposed  to  us  not  to  stay  inside  the  city,  but  to  go 
on  board  a  boat,  and  spend  the  night  on  the  river.  He  said  he 
was  afraid  die  crowd  would  rob.  or  ill-treat  us.  We  said  we  had 
no  fears,  and  were  willing  to  risk  that.  He  then  said,  he  feared  the 
crowd  would  quarrel  among  themselves  ;  but  we  said,  no !  they 
were  not  given  to  quarrelling,  and  we  did  not  think  them  such 
fools  as  to  do  that.  He  then  said  the  house  we  were  in  was  pre-en- 
gaged for  some  stranger  of  distinction,  which  was  a  most  palpable 
lie,  and  if  we  wished  to 'occupy  it,  we  must  draw  up  a  petition  to 
him  for  that  purpose.  This  would  take  some  time,  and  he  thought, 
therefore,  we  had  better  go  on  board  the  boat.  He  would  find  a 
very  good  one  for  us,  would  send  us  down  in  chairs,  would  give  us 
a  guard  during  the  night,  and  in  the  morning  would  send  chairs 
and  an  officer  to  take  us  all  round  the  city,  wherever  we  wished 
to  go.  We  saw  that  he  felt  anxious,  and  as  it  would  be  really 
more  comfortable  to  spend  the  night  in  a  boat  than  where  we  were, 
we  almost  concluded  to  accept  the  offer,  but  hesitated  for  fear  all 
this  should  be  only  a  scheme  to  float  us  off  during  the  night.  It 
was  amusing  to  observe  how  he  answered  this,  "  Oh,  no,  not  at  all ;" 
and  he  put  one  hand  on  his  own  heart,  and  one  on  Mr.  Abeel's, 
(who  was  the  speaker  all  this  time,  as  my  own  slight  knowledge 
of  the  language  did  not  qualify  me  for  saying  anything,)  and  de- 
clared that  he  was  sincere,  "Let  there  be  confidence  between 
friends."  Tea  was  now  brought  in,  and  he  poured  out  a  cup  full, 
and  emptied  it  into  three  cups,  drinking  one  himself,  and  giving 
one  to  Mr.  A.,  and  one  to  myself.  We  drank  a  cup  all  around, 
and  to  his  great  gratification  accepted  of  his  offer.  It  was  now 
nearly  dark.  They  had  our  luggage  sent  down  to  the  boat,  had 
chairs  brought  to  the  door,  and  escorted  us  down  to  the  water-side. 
We  were  carried  through  several  streets,  one  of  which  was  covered 
over  with  yellow  and  red  cloth,  and  ornamented  with  numerous 
lighted  lanterns  of  all  sizes,  shapes,  and  colors.  It  was  a  celebra- 
tion for  the  continuance  of  peace,  and  a  return  of  health.  We 
were  told  on  the  following  day,  that  the  cholera  has  prevailed  this 
summer  to  a  frightful  extent  in  Chang-Chow,  as  many  as  two  hun- 
dred persons  sometimes  dying  of  it  in  a  single  day. 

A  boat  was  speedily  selected,  of  tolerably  large  size,  though  not 
the  cleanest  or  most  comfortable  I  have  ever  seen,  and  we  duly 
deposited  ourselves  therein.  The  local  magistrate  then  called  the 
owner  of  the  boat,  who  went  and  knelt  down  on  the  ground  before 
him,  and  received  his  orders  to  treat  us  well,  and  to  suffer  us  to 
want  for  nothing.  The  officers  then  all  went  away,  and  as  it  was 
growing  late,  and  we  were  heartily  tired,  we  prepared  for  rest. 
But  before  we  had  lain  down,  who  should  come  in  but  the  inter- 


JOURNAL    AT    CHANG-CHOW.  223 

preter  ;  he  came  from  the  local  magistrate  to  beg  us  to  go  away 
that  night.  The  Yo-tae,  or  highest  officer  of  the  place,  had  said 
that  we  must  not  remain.  We  laughed,  and  told  him  this  was 
ridiculous,  that  the  local  magistrate  had  given  us  his  word  and 
honor  that  we  should  stay,  had  put  his  hand  on  his  heart,  and  told 
us  there  must  be  confidence  between  friends,  and  was  this  the  way 
to  show  it  ?  The  interpreter  was  a  shrewd,  sensible  man,  and 
seeing  we  had  the  best  of  the  argument,  and  were  disposed  to 
maintain  it,  did  not  press  the  matter.  He  laughed  in  his  peculiar 
manner,  and  saying  that  he  would  come  early  in  the  morning  to 
accompany  us  around,  he  departed,  and  we  lay  down  to  sleep. 

Thursday,  Oct.  5.  The  morning  being  bright  and  pleasant,  we 
started  for  a  walk  before  breakfast,  and  the  lower  bridge  being 
hard-by  the  place  where  our  boat  was  'anchored,  we  went  there 
first.  It  is  built  on  twenty-five  piles  of  stone  about  thirty  feet 
apart,  and  perhaps  twenty  feet  in  height,  above  the  surface  of  the 
water.  Large  round  beams  are  laid  from  pile  to  pile,  and  smaller 
ones  across  in  the  simplest  and  rudest  manner :  these  are  then 
covered  with  earth,  and  the  upper  part  is  paved  with  bricks  or 
stone.  One  would  suppose  that  the  work  had  been  assigned  to  a 
number  of  different  persons,  and  that  each  had  executed  his  part 
in  such  manner  as  best  suited  his  own  fancy,  there  being  no  regu- 
larity in  the  paving ;  bricks  and  stone  were  intermingled  in  the 
most  confused  manner,  and  the  railing  was  sometimes  of  wood, 
and  sometimes  of  stone.  The  length  of  some  of  the  stones  used 
in  paving  the  bridge  was  very  remarkable  ;  some  of  them  were 
eight,  others  eleven,  others  fourteen,  and  three  of  them  eighteen 
paces  each,  in  length,  so  that  these  last  must  have  been  about 
forty-five  feet  long,  and  two  or  three  broad.  They  were  of  un- 
hewn granite,  but  from  the  constant  crowd  of  passengers  for  a 
hundred  years  or  more,*  were  worn  quite  smooth.  The  bridge 
averages  eight  or  ten  feet  in  width,  and  about  one-half  its  length 
on  either  side  was  occupied  by  shops  in  which  various  articles, 
principally  eatables,  were  exposed  for  sale.  I  may  remark  here 
that  the  short  account  of  this  city  contained  in  the  work  of  Abbe 
Grosier,  on  China,  which  is  compiled  from  the  memoirs  of  the  Je3' 
uit  missionaries,  contains  several  mistakes.  The  work  referred  to 
speaks  of  but  one  bridge,  whereas,  there  are  two :  it  gives  that  one 
bridge  thirty-six  arches,  whereas  there  are  but  twenty-five,  and 
they  are  not,  in  any  sense  of  the  word,  arches,  being  simply  tim- 
bers laid  from  pier  to  pier.  It  also  speaks  of  the  "  two  ranges  of 
shops  furnished  with  the  most  precious  things  of  China,  and  the 
rarest  merchandises  of  foreign  lands."  If  this  account  were  true  in 
the  days  when  the  Jesuits  went  through  the  land  with  the  utmost 
freedom,  it  is  not  so  now,  for  the  articles  we  saw  in  these  shops 
were  of  the  commonest  and  coarsest  kind.  It  also  says,  that  since 
"  the  tides  reach  regularly  to  Chang-Chow,  this  place  has  become 

*  We  did  not  learn  when  the  bridge  was  built — but  the  natives  told  us  it  was  re- 
paired in  the  time  of  Kang-he,  more  than  one  hundred  years  ago. 


224  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

the  resort  of  a  multitude  of  vessels,  by  means  of  which  a  com- 
merce is  held  with  Amoy.  Pow-hou,  and  Formosa,  and  from  hence 
depart  all  the  Chinese  who  go  to  traffic  at  the  Philippine  islands :" 
— all  this  is  to  be  taken  with  large  allowance.  The  tide  does  reach 
Chang-Chow,  but  even  at  high  tide,  only  the  smallest  vessels  can 
come  up  so  far — and  when  the  tide  is  out,  a  common  whaleboat 
is  in  danger  of  grounding.  I  take  it  for  granted,  therefore,  that 
no  vessels  go  from  this  city,  either  to  Formosa  or  the  Philippine 
islands ;  and  certainly,  though  there  are  a  goodly  number  of  small 
boats  in  the  river,  there  are  no  vessels  there  fitted  to  encounter  a 
sea  voyage.  From  Amoy  vessels  do  go  to  all  the  parts  mentioned 
above,  and  to  many  others,  and  the  goods  they  bring  back  are 
conveyed  in  smaller  vessels  to  the  city  of  Chang-Chow ;  but  the 
statements  just  referred  to  (see  Grosier's  "La  Chine,"  vol.  1,  p.  96,) 
are  not  sanctioned  by  what  we  saw.  If  the  accounts  the  Jesuits 
have  given  of  other  cities  of  the  empire,  are  equally  defective  and 
erroneous,  we  have  small  reason  to  thank  them  for  their  contribu- 
tions to  our  stock  of  knowledge  of  China.  The  reader  of  Abbe 
Grosier  will  not  find  one  of  the  particulars  of  the  following  account 
in  his  work. 

There  were  many  persons  passing  and  repassing,  as  we  crossed 
the  bridge,  and  the  various  odors  that  filled  the  air  were  not  the 
most  agreeable.  A  person  who  wishes  to  live  among  the  Chinese, 
and  in  daily  contact  with  them,  will  do  well  to  ponder  the  advice 
given  by  Sir  Astley  Cooper  to  a  young  man  who  wished  to  attend 
lectures  on  Anatomy  and  dissection.  "  The  first  thing  you  must 
learn,  sir,  is  to  disregard  your  nose."  Having  crossed  the  bridge, 
and  passed  through  a  village  at  the  end  of  it,  we  went  along  the 
southern  bank  of  the  river  to  the  second  bridge,  which  is  about  a 
mile  from  the  first,  and  similarly  constructed.  On  coming  to  it, 
our  guides  pointed  a  little  further,  and  told  us  there  was  a  temple 
there  worth  seeing.  We  accordingly  kept  on,  and  were  soon  well 
repaid  for  our  additional  walk,  by  a  sight  of  one  of  the  oldest 
buildings  I  have  ever  seen.  It  was  a  temple  said  to  have  been 
built  in  the  Suy  dynasty,  about  twelve  hundred  years  ago.  The 
various  gateways  and  small  buildings  usually  found  in  front  of 
Chinese  temples,  were  decayed  and  in  ruins.  Two  pools  on  either 
side  of  the  main  entrance,  were  covered  with  the  broad-leaved 
water-lily.  The  main  building,  which  is  of  wood,  is  very  high, 
and  every  pillar,  board,  stone,  and  tile,  bore  the  marks  of  ex- 
treme age.  On  going  in,  we  were  utterly  astonished.  Seven 
gigantic  images,  in  sitting  or  standing  postures,  gilded  and 
painted,  but  faded  and  dusty,  and  tarnished  with  age,  were  ar- 
ranged across  the  middle  of  the  temple  ;  while  on  either  side  was 
a  row  of  fifteen  Chinese  worthies,  either  sitting  or  standing,  and  as 
large  as  life.  Behind  the  seven  first  images  were  three  others : 
the  very  smallest  of  the  ten  was  at  least  eight  feet  in  height,  while 
the  largest,  if  they  had  been  standing,  would  have  been  fifteen  or 
eighteen.  An  immense  drum  occupied  one  corner  of  the  room, 


JOURNAL   AT    CHANG-CHOW.  225 

and  a  bell  another.  The  roof  was  most  curiously  composed  of 
carved  wood,  and  inscriptions  in  various  styles  of  Chinese  writing 
were  painted,  and  gilded,  and  carved  on  the  pillars,  walls, 
ceiling,  and  tablets  of  the  temple.  It  had  been  repaired  in 
Kang-he's  time,  though  it  was  now  in  a  sad  state  from  age  and 
neglect.  It  was  sickening  to  look  on  the  gloomy  monsters  whom 
this  people  worship  as  their  gods,  and  to  witness  the  ingenuity  and 
expense  lavished  on  these  dumb  idols,  and  to  think  of  the  dreadful 
degradation  of  the  people  that  can  worship  such  works  of  their  own 
hands.  Yet  it  is  also  cheering  to  think  that  their  superstitions 
are  old,  and  many  of  them  seem  almost  ready  to  vanish  away. 
Not  a  great  many  new  temples  are  built,  and  those  already  exist- 
ing are  often  in  very  poor  repair.  The  people  appear  to  have  little 
reverence  for  their  idols,  and  their  worship  consists  of  little  else 
than  a  heartless  round  of  unmeaning  ceremonies.  Oh,  for  that 
time  when  idols  shall  be  utterly  abolished ! 

From  the  main  temple,  we  went  to  a  small  side  building,  which 
contained  a  single  idol,  standing,  with  one  hand  folded  on  the 
breast,  and  the  other  hanging  open  by  the  side.  I  got  up  on  the 
pedestal,  which  was  three  feet  high,  and  reaching  with  my  um- 
brella, could  barely  touch  the  hand  that  was  laid  across  the  breast. 
The  open  hand  was  two  feet  long,  and  the  whole  image  could 
have  been  little  less  than  twenty  feet  high.  It  was  cut  out  of  one 
solid  rock,  which  formerly  occupied  this  spot ;  without  removing 
it,  they  Uewed  out  the  image  and  erected  the  house  over  it.  We 
returned  to  the  main  building,  and  standing  directly  in  front  of  the 
images  there,  Mr.  Abeel  addressed  the  crowd  in  their  own  lan- 
guage, on  the  folly  of  worshipping  idols  that  could  neither  see,  nor 
hear,  nor  speak ;  telling  them,  also,  of  the  way  of  life,  through 
Jesus  Christ.  About  three  hundred  persons  were  present,  many 
of  whom  listened  with  attention  ;  some  questions  were  asked,  and 
they  assented  very  freely  to  the  truth  of  what  was  told  them. 
While  thus  engaged,  we  were  surprised  by  a  visit  from  the  inter- 
preter, who  had  gone  down  to  the  boat  to  see  us.  and  finding  we 
had  strolled  away,  had  followed  us  here,  wondering  why  we  had 
gone  off  without  waiting  for  the  chairs.  He  was  extremely  polite, 
and  accompanied  us  across  the  second  bridge,  and  back  to  our 
boat.  After  breakfast,  we  had  a  visit  from  the  little  fussy  officer. 
He  had  a  great  many  questions  to  ask  about  our  modes  of  writing, 
articles  of  food,  clothing,  &c.,  all  of  which  were  new  to  him.  He 
expressed  a  great  deal  of  surprise  when  he  learned  that  our  sur- 
names are  frequently  of  two,  three,  and  even  four  syllables.  The 
Chinese  surname  has  rarely  more  than  one. 

Breakfast  being  over,  we  entered  the  chairs  provided  for  us,  and 
being  escorted  by  the  interpreter,  and  two  or  three  of  the  officers, 
proceeded  through  the  city.  We  were  carried  through  several 
streets,  some  of  which  were  narrow  and  offensively  filthy,  but 
many  of  them  were  wide,  i.  e.  for  a  Chinese  city,  say  eight,  ten, 
and  even  twelve  feet,  and  lined  with  pretty  good-looking  houses. 

15 


226  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

The  furniture  shops,  and  a  few  of  the  clothing  establishments 
looked  very  well.  We  passed  several  carpenters'  and  shoemakers' 
shops,  apothecaries'  shops,  and  book-stores  ;  at  the  doors  of  the 
latter  stood  large  cards  with  sze  shoo,  woo  King,  Tst  en  tsze  wan, 
the  Four  Books,  the  Five  Classics,  the  Thousand  Character  Classic, 
&c..  in  staring  capitals,  reminding  us  of  similar  displays  in  the 
streets  of  our  own  cities.  We  also  passed  through  several  mar- 
kets well  supplied  with  very  fat  pork,  dried  fish,  poultry,  and  vege- 
tables in  abundance,  though  not  in  great  variety.  There  were 
shaddocks,  large  persimmons,  pine-apples,  pears,  plantains,  sweet 
potatoes,  sugar-cane,  radishes,  &c.  &c.  Crowds  followed  us  as 
usual,  and  we  had  no  reason  to  complain  for  want  of  attention. 
The  word  hwan  liwanna  !  (foreigners  !)  uttered  by  every  one  who 
saw  us,  was  the  signal  for  all  those  through  whose  quarters  we  pass- 
ed, to  leave  their  work  and  gaze  upon  the  newly-arrived  visitors. 

We  were  carried  to  the  north-west  corner  of  the  city,  and  pres- 
ently found  ourselves  in  an  open  space  with  rising  ground  be- 
yond, and  a  very  large  temple  directly  in  front.  It  was  built,  in 
the  Tang  dynasty,  from  nine  hundred  to  twelve  hundred  years 
ago,  and  bore  the  marks  of  age,  though  in  much  better  repair  than 
the  one  we  had  previously  visited.  The  scene  presented  when 
the  doors  were  thrown  open  and  we  entered,  was  quite  unexpect- 
ed. Eight  gigantic  figures,  even  larger  than  those  we  had  previ- 
ously seen,  were  arranged  across  the  temple.  Some  of  them 
seemed  almost  to  support  its  high  roof  on  their  heads:  thirty-six 
Chinese  sages  occupied  either  side,  in  rows  of  eighteen  each.  The 
roof  of  the  temple  was  constructed  in  the  most  elaborate  manner, 
and  was  supported  by  several  noble  wooden  pillars.  The  most 
curious  things  we  s<aw,  were  a  couple  of  large  lockers  or  cupboards, 
closed  and  locked.  They  were  about  eight  feet  square  and  two 
feet  deep,  and  their  contents  were  unknown.  .The  people  all  de- 
clared most  seriously  that  they  had  not  been  opened  for  years,  and 
if  they  should  be  opened,  death  would  surely  come  out  in  some 
terrible  form,  or  some  dreadful  plague  would  visit  the  people. 

The  grounds  of  the  temple  were  quite  extensive,  and  numbers 
of  houses  for  the  residence  of  the  priests,  and  the  entertainment 
of  strangers,  were  scattered  around.  Some  of  them  were  falling 
to  pieces  through  very  age.  Behind  the  main  building  we  were 
shown  a  smaller  one,  dedicated  to  Choo-foo-tsze,  the  celebrated 
commentator  on  the  Four  Books.  He  was  a  native  of  An  hwuy 
province,  but  had  been  for  some  time  the  prefect  or  chief  ruler  at 
Chang-Chow.  His  house,  which  is  in  the  centre  of  the  city,  and 
is  quite  large  and  high,  was  pointed  out;  and  we  were  told,  that 
when  built,  the  main  beam  of  the  roof  was  suspended  in  the  air. 
He  declared  that  if  any  unfaithful  or  wicked  ruler  ever  entered 
the  house,  the  beam  would  fall  and  crush  him.  but  since  his  time, 
the  beam  has  very  considerately  taken  its  proper  place  in  the  wall. 

Behind  the  temple  the  ground  rose  steeply,  and  three  of  its  sum- 
nits  were  crowned  with  little  open  towers.  We  climbed  up  in 


JOURNAL    AT    CHANG-CHOW.  227 

the  hot  sun,  expecting  to  obtain  an  extended  prospect,  but  the 
scene  that  met  our  eyes  greatly  transcended  our  expectations. 
Fancy  an  amphitheatre  thirty  miles  in  length  by  twenty  in 
breadth,  hemmed  in  on  all  sides  by  steep,  bare,  pointed  hills,  a 
river  running  through  the  plain,  an  immense  city  at  our  feet, 
with  fields  of  rice  and  sugar-cane,  noble  trees  and  numerous  vil- 
lages stretching  away  in  every  direction.  It  was  grand  and  beau- 
tiful above  every  conception  I  had  ever  formed  of  Chinese  scenery. 
The  eye  wandered  over  that,  immense  plain,  and  returned  again 
and  again  to  the  contemplation  of  particular  points,  till  we  were 
almost  wearied  by  the  sight  of  so-much  magnificence:  and  when 
we  came  to  particulars,  the  wonder  was  increased  rather  than  di- 
minished. Beneath  us  lay  the  city.  We  could  trace  its  walls  in 
nearly  every  direction.  It  would  have  been  nearly  square,  had 
not  the  southern  wall  curved  outwards  from  following  the  course 
of  the  river.  It  was  very  closely  built,  as  almost  all  Chinese  cities 
are,  and  had  a  vast  number  of  large  trees  in  every  part,  within 
and  around.  On  inquiring  the  number  of  inhabitants,  our  guide 
answered,  that  in  the  last  dynasty  it  had  numbered  seven  hun- 
dred thousand  souls,  and  now  there  were  more.  He  thought 
there  were  a  million  of  people  within  the  walls.  This  is  probably  a 
large  estimate,  though  it  is  the  one  commonly  given  by  the  Chinese: 
— yet  allowing  only  half  their  estimate,  how  large  a  number  is 
even  that !  The  villages  around  also  attracted  our  attention,  and 
I  tried  to  count  them,  but  after  enumerating  thirty-nine  of  large 
size,  distinctly  visible,  in  less  than  half  the  field  before  us,  I  gave 
over  the  attempt.  It  is  certainly  not  going  too  far  to  say,  that  in 
that  plain,  there  are  at  least  one  hundred  villages ;  some  of  them 
may  be  small,  but  many  of  them  would  number  their  hundreds 
and  even  thousands  of  inhabitants.  Oh,  what  a  field  for  missions 
is  here,  if  the  country  were  but  open,  and  the  churches  ready  to 
enter  it !  How  many,  many  souls  there  were  beneath  our  eyes, 
all  ignorant  of  the  true  God,  and  of  the  way  of  life.  The  prospect 
before  us  was  surprisingly  beautiful,  but  alas,  for  those  who  dwell 
amidst  those  fair  scenes,  where 

"  Every  prospect  pleases,  and  only  man  is  vile !" 

Oh,  how  often  does  the  thought  come  across  the  missionary's 
mind  in  China,  "  multitudes,  multitudes !"  but  alas,  they  are 
scattered,  as  sheep  having  no  shepherd.  Oh,  that  Christians 
could  but  see  them,  and  have  compassion  upon  them.  Then 
would  they  pray  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  to  send  forth  more  labor- 
ers into  his  harvest,  for  the  harvest  truly  is  plenteous,  but  the 
laborers  are  few.  This  country  will  yet  be  opened.  '  The  doors 
have  already  begun  to  unclose,  and  no  human  power  is  able  to 
shut  them  again.  What  though  they  move. but  slowly,  and  grate 
harshly  as  they  turn  on  their  rusty  hinges,  they  move  none  the 
less  surely  for  all  that ;  and  the  field  that  is  opened  to  us,  by  the 
first  unclosing,  is  so  vast  that  our  numbers  are  quite  insufficient 


MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE 

to  occupy  it.  What  then  will  be  the  case  when  the  whole  coun- 
try is  thrown  open?  When  we  have  properly  occupied  the  five 
ports  now  open,  and  are  ready  to  extend  our  efforts  beyond,  it 
will  be  time  enough  to  wish  for  a  larger  field.  Doubtless  God 
will  give  us  a  larger  field  before  we  are  ready  to  enter  on  it. 

We  went  back  to  our  boats  as  we  came,  except  that  we  walked 
through  several  of  the  streets,  much  to  the  discomfort  of  our  leader, 
who  did  not  fancy  walking  through  the  narrow,  crowded  streets, 
when  he  might  as  easily  have  rode.  We  went  into  several  shops, 
and  priced  several  articles,  but  saw  nothing  we  cared  to  buy  ex- 
cept some  lanterns,  and  some  excellent  sugar-house  molasses. 
The  goods  were  commonly  plain  and  coarse,  and  the  showy  ones 
were  unsubstantial.  Beautiful  as  the  city  looked  from  a  distance, 
it  did  not  so  well  bear  close  inspection.  I  have  seen  but  little  in 
China  that  does.  The  streets  were  rather  wider  and  many  of 
them  were  cleaner,  than  those  seen  in  the  Chinese  cities  hitherto 
visited  by  foreigners,  though  this  is  not  saying  much.  Most  of 
the  houses  had  wooden  fronts,  and  apparently  brick  or  plaster 
walls  ;  very  few  were  floored  :  they  commonly  have  only  the 
ground,  or,  at  best,  tiles  under  their  feet,  and  the  furniture  of  a 
great  majority  of  their  houses  is  most  inferior  in  kind,  and  scanty 
in  quantity.  Over  the  door  of  nearly  every  house  there  was  an 
open-mouthed  tiger  painted.  The  Chinese  are  certainly  as  great 
strangers  to  the  virtue  of  cleanliness,  as  any  people  so  far  advanced 
in  civilization  as  they  really  are ;  it  will  require  a  long  training  to 
give  them  those  habits  of  neatness  and  order  requisite  to  real  com- 
fort. I  know  these  are  disagreeable  truths  to  those  fond  of  ro- 
mance, but  the  missionary  to  the  Chinese  must  lay  aside  many 
romantic  ideas,  and  accustom  himself'to  many  things  unpleasant, 
and  to  some  that  are  almost  revolting  to  his  finer  feelings.  The 
main  thing  is,  neither  to  suffer  himself  to  be  so  disgusted  with 
their  deficiencies  as  to  cease  compassionating  them,  nor  to  sink  to 
their  low  level,  when  he  ought  rather  to  bring  them  up  to  his  own 
standard. 

After  dinner  we  went  up  in  a  boat  some  distance  above  the  city, 
and  walked  among  the  rice-grounds  and  sugar-canes.  How  much 
the  latter  reminded  me  of  the  luxuriant  corn-fields  of  Maryland  ! 
We  saw  several  men  watering  the  rice-grounds  by  means  of  the 
chain  pump,  which  is  worked  by  the  foot,  and  is  described  in 
Davis's  China,  ch.  19.  This  may  be  the  same  contrivance  that 
was  used  in  Egypt,  and  is  referred  to  in  the  Scriptures :  "  thou 
sowedst  thy  seed,  and  wateredst  it  with  thy  foot  as  a  garden  of 
herbs  ;"  Dent.  xi.  10.  The  people  gathered  around  us,  and  Mr.  A. 
addressed  them  in  two  different  places.  Some  of  them  attended 
carefully,  but  most  of  them  seemed  more  disposed  to  examine  our 
dress  than  to  listen  to  religious  discourse. 

We  returned  to  our  boat,  and  concluded  to  go  in  her  to  Cho-bey 
at  the  change  of  the  tide.  We  had  seen  nearly  all  we  wanted  at 
Chang-Chow,  and  had  succeeded  in  our  object  in  visiting  the  city, 


JOURNAL    AT    CHANG-CHOW.  229 

quite  as  well  as  could  have  been  expected.  Our  object,  it  will  be 
remembered,  was  not  so  much  to  distribute  tracts,*  and  perform 
direct  missionary  labor,  as  it  was  to  see  the  country,  obtain  infor- 
mation respecting  the  people,  and  learn  what  prospect  there  was 
for  missionary  labors  among  them.  On  this  last  point,  some  re- 
marks will  be  found  in  the  sequel. 

The  boat  in  which  we  had  lodged  was  owned  by  an  old  man 
and  his  wife.  She  was  above  seventy  years  old,  and  according  to 
the  universal  custom  in  the  Fuhkeen  province,  wore  flowers, 
which  in  their  freshness  and  bloom,  contrasted  strangely  with  her 
gray  hairs.  On  inquiring  whether  infanticide  were  common  in 
this  region  or  not,  she  replied,  that  it  was  on  shore,  though  not 
among  the  people  who  live  in  the  boats.  Hearing  a  little  child 
cry,  and  asking  whose  it  was,  she  said  that  it  was  a  little  girl 
which  she  had  found  exposed  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  had 
taken  to  bring  up.  This  was  the  fourth  child  she  had  rescued 
after  they  had  been  exposed  by  their  parents,  but  the  three  previ- 
ous ones  had  died  before  growing  up.  The  old  woman  had  a  little 
grandson,  nine  or  ten  years  old,  and  said  she  meant  to  bring  up 
the  little  girl  she  now  had,  for  his  wife. 

Friday,  October  6.  Arrived  at  Cho-bey  before  daylight,  and  soon 
after  sunrise  went  ashore  to  see  the  place.  It  is  a  walled  town, 
but  the  part  within  the  walls  is  by  no  means  so  extensive  as  that 
without.  Here,  as  elsewhere,  crowds  followed  us,  noisier  too,  and 
ruder  than  those  of  Chang-Chow,  though  they  offered  us  no  man- 
ner of  insult,  and  most  readily  allowed  us  to  pass  wherever  we 
chose.  We  found  it  quite  a  large  and  populous  place,  stretching 
at  least  a  mile  along  the  shore,  and  I  know  not  how  far  back  from 
the  river.  It  is  a  busy,  bustling  place  of  trade ;  the  shops  were 
crowded  with  goods,  commonly  of  a  very  coarse  quality,  and  the 
streets  thronged  with  people.  For  dirt  and  filth,  it  excels  every 
other  place  I  have  seen,  and  some  of  the  streets  were  actually 
sickening.  Several  persons  who  had  been  to  Amoy,  recognized 
Mr.  A.,  and  one  of  them,  who  had  been  a  patient  of  Dr.  Cum- 
ming's  at  Ku-lang-su,  volunteered  to  guide  us  through  the  streets, 
which  are  so  narrow,  from  three  to  twelve  feet  wide,  and  so 
crooked,  that  we  should  have  found  it  difficult  to  proceed  alone. 
The  number  of  fresii  fish  in  the  markets  was  really  surprising. 
The  river  is  here  not  one-fourth  of  a  mile  wide,  and  hardly  six 
feet  deep,  and  yet  as  far  as  we  could  learn,  it  supplies  the  whole 
of  the  teeming  population  of  both  its  banks,  including  those  of  the 
cities  of  Chang-Chow,  Cho-bey,  and  Haeteng.  Here  we  saw  im- 
mense numbers  of  fine  large  fish,  fresh  from  the  water,  and  excel- 
lent in  flavor,  as  we  proved  by  experiment.  After  walking  till  we 
were  tired,  we  stopped  in  front  of  an  idol  temple,  and  Mr.  A.  ad- 

*  I  should  have  mentioned  that  the  officers  to  whom  we  gave  the  tracts  on  our  first 
arrival,  told  us  afterwards  that  they  had  read  them  carefully,  and  highly  approved  of 
their  doctrines.  Part  of  this  is,  doubtless,  mere  Chinese  politeness,  but  the  perusal  of 
the  tracts  may,  with  God's  blessing,  lead  them  to  the  truth. 


>230  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

dressed  the  crowd  that  gathered  around  us.  They  were  quite  at- 
tentive, and  the  questions  asked  by  several  of  them,  showed  that 
they  understood  what  was  spoken  to  them. 

Being  heartily  tired,  and  having  no  wish  to  return  to  the  crowded 
streets  of  Cho-bey,  we  started,  after  breakfast,  for  Haeteng.  The 
tide  was  against  us.  but  two  men  rowed  us  there,  a  distance  of 
four  or  five  miles  for  one  hundred  cash,  or  about  nine  cents.  It 
was  about  eleven  o'clock  when  we  reached  Haeteng,  and  having  se- 
cured a  boat  to  convey  us  to  Amoy  in  the  afternoon,  we  started 
for  a  walk.  The  city  is  surrounded  by  a  high  wall,  which  on  the 
side  next  the  river  is  double.  The  outer  wall  ran  close  alongside 
of  the  little  stream  where  our  boat  was  anchored,  and  when  we 
entered  the  gates  we  found  a  large  space  between  the  outer  and 
inner  walls,  almost  wholly  occupied  by  gardens  and  rice-grounds. 
Ascending  the  outer  wall,  we  walked  some  distance,  and  as  there 
were  but  few  houses,  we  were  not  annoyed  by  a  crowd.  Presently 
the  outer  wall  came  right  against  the  inner  one,  which  was  some 
four  or  six  feet  higher,  and  to  avoid  going  round  some  distance  we 
climbed  over  it,  and  walked  along  the  ramparts.  The  wall  is 
about  fifteen  feet  high,  and  five  feet  thick,  and  is  built  of  stone, 
but  did  not  appear  strong.  The  plain  outside  of  the  wall  was  ex- 
tensive, and  was  occupied  by  rice-grounds ;  there  were  no  villages 
within  a  mile  or  two  of  the  side  where  we  stood,  but  some  distance 
off,  we  -could  see  several  of  large  size."  The  city  itself  we  could 
not  see,  there  being  so  many  trees  within  the  walls  as  quite  to 
prevent  our  seeing  where  most  of  the  houses  lay.  After  walking 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  along  the  wall,  we  went  down  looking  into  a 
new  and  neat  temple,  and  strolled  through  several  of  the  streets. 
They  were  wider  and  far  neater  than  any  we  had  seen  elsewhere, 
but  we  saw  very  few  people.  Perhaps  it  should  be  said,  compara- 
tively few,  for  we  had  become  so  accustomed  to  crowds,  that  a 
hundred  persons  behind  us  seemed  quite  a  small  assemblage.  In 
the  course  of  our  walk  we  saw  a  couple  of  stages,  on  which  some 
actors  in  gaudy  dresses  were  performing  games  for  the  amusement 
of  the  audience.  Their  music  was  anything  but  agreeable,  but 
we  did  not  stop  to  witness  the  performances,  as  we  found  that  we 
were  attracting  more  attention  than  the  players.  It  was  now 
noon,  the  sun  was  hot,  we  had  been  wearied  at  Cho-bey  in  the 
morning,  besides  being  almost  overpowered  by  the  excitement  of 
the  two  previous  days,  and  the  wind  being  ahead,  it  was  impor- 
tant to  secure  the  favorable  tide,  which  was  now  making  for  Amoy. 
Accordingly  we  turned  our  faces  homeward,  and  at  sunset  re-en- 
tered our  houses  in  Ku-lang-su ;  glad  and  thankful  for  the  won- 
derful things  we  had  seen,  the  favors  received,  and  the  mercies 
enjoyed  during  our  three  days'  excursion. 

In  looking  back  over  this  excursion,  and  over  the  whole  of  my 
voyage,  there  are  several  points  that  deserve  to  be  prominently 
brought  forwar  1 ;  and  though  my  journal  is  already  long,  a  few 
remarks  on  each  will  not  be  out  of  place. 


JOURNAL    AT    AMOY.  231 

1.  The  attentive  reader  of  this  journal  will  have  been  struck 
with  the  frequent  reference  to  the  amazing  populousness  of  the 
country  ;  but  it  is  impossible  to  convey  any  adequate  idea  of  the 
real  state  of  the  case.  If  the  cities  of  Boston,  New  York,  Phila- 
delphia and  Baltimore  were  situated  in  a  valley  forty  miles  long, 
and  ten  or  fifteen  broad,  and  the  whole  intervening  country  were 
so  thickly  covered  with  villages  that  a  man  should  never  be  out 
of  sight  of  one  or  more  of  them,  still  the  population  of  that  valley 
would  not  be  as  great  as  is  the  population  of  that  part  of  China, 
of  which  the  preceding  pages  speak.  At  seven  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing we  were  at  Amoy ;  by  two  o'clock,  p.  M.,  we  had  passed 
Haeteng  and  Cho-bey,  and  were  anchored  at  Chang-Chow.  Here 
were  four  cities,  any  one  of  which  would  be  a  city  of  the  first  size 
in  the  United  States,  and  around  these  four  cities,  there  must  be 
at  least  two  hundred  villages  and  towns;  and  .this  is  not  all.  for 
within  thirty  miles  of  Amoy,  in  another  direction,  is  the  city  of 
Tung-an,  said  to  be  twice  as  large  as  Amoy,  with,  I  know  not  how 
many  towns  and  villages  in  its  neighborhood.  The  mind  is  over- 
whelmed to  think  of  this  immense  population,  numerous  as  the 
sand  on  the  sea-shore,  and  all  so  closely  crowded  together,  and  so 
easily  reached,  by  water  communication,  for  in  a  boat  you  may 
go  to  any  one  of  those  places  in  less  than  a  single  day.  If  the 
country  around  each  of  the  other  ports  is  as  populous,  as  we  now 
know  that  around  Arnoy  to  be,  and  the  probability,  from  all  I  can 
learn,  is  that  it  is  quite  as  populous,  then  what  fields  are  here  for 
Christian  effort !  I  am  astonished  and  confounded,  and  even,  after 
what  I  have  seen,  can  scarcely  believe  the  half  of  what  must  be 
true  respecting  the  multitudes  of  people  who  live  in  China,  and 
the  multitudes  who  are  perfectly  accessible  to  the  efforts  of  the 
missionary.  This  leads  me  to  remark, 

2.  The  facilities  for  access  to  the  people.  It  is  hard  for  one  who 
has  not  been  here  in  former  times,  rightly  to  appreciate  this  sub- 
ject. Two  years  ago,  the  protestant  missionaries  were  confined  to 
Canton  and  Macao,  and  in  neither  of  these  places  were  they  al- 
lowed free  access  to  the  people,  or  those  opportunities  of  social 
intercourse  with  them,  that  are  indispensable  to  the  full  success 
of  the  missionary  work.  Now.  how  changed  is  the  scene  !  Here 
are  four  large  cities,  with  innumerable  villages  around  them,  where 
we  have  free  access  to  the  people,  without  encountering  the  preju- 
dices that  so  hindered  us  at  Canton  and  Macao.  Around  each  of 
these  four  cities,  there  are  many  other  large  and  populous  cities, 
between  which,  and  the  cities  to  which  foreigners  may  freely  come, 
there  is  constant  intercourse.  It  is  true  we  are  not  allowed  to  go 
to  these  other  cities.  The  government  at  Pekin  still  prohibits  for- 
eigners from  straying  beyond  certain  limits.  This  was  evident 
from  the  opposition  we  met  from  the  officers  at  Chang-Chow.  But 
it  is  impossible  for  this  exclusive  system  to  continue  long.  It  has 
already  received  its  death-blow,  and  everything  conspires  to  hasten 
its  fall.  Foreigners  will  visit  these  interior  cities,  the  people  will 


232  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

gee  them  and  talk  about  them,  and  wonder  why  the  government 
refuses  to  allow  them  to  enter  the  country.  They  will  come  and 
see  us  at  the  ports  already  opened,  they  will  be  influenced  by  what 
they  see  and  hear,  and  by  the  extension  of  commerce,  and  the  oc- 
casional visits  of  those  who  go  into  the  interior.  Our  visit  to 
Chang-Chow  will  not  soon  be  forgotten  by  the  thousands  who  then, 
for  the  first  time,  saw  a  foreigner.  Our  being  known  as  religious 
teachers,  and  being  so  respectfully  treated  by  the  officers,  will  have 
its  influence;  and  I  do  not  despair  of  seeing  the  time  when  our 
missionaries  shall  have  their  station  at  Haetengand  Chang-Chow, 
and  Tung-an,  and  at  the  large  cities  around  the  other  ports,  just 
as  freely  as  they  now  have  at  Amoy,  and  Ningpo  and  Shanghae. 
Yet,  even  if  it  should  not  be  so,  even  if  the  door  should  remain 
closed  against  the  personal  operations  of  the  missionary,  longer 
than  now  seems  probable,  the  way  is  abundantly  open  for  the  dis- 
tribution of  religious  books,  and  their  dispersion  into  the  interior 
of  the  country.  Nothing  is  easier,  had  we  the  funds,  and  the 
books,  than  to  send  tracts  in  any  quantities,  ten,  twenty,  fifty  miles 
into  the  interior,  from  any  of  the  ports  just  opened  ;  and  as  soon 
as  we  have  the  men,  and  suitable  tracts  ready,  we  shall  need 
printing-presses  at  each  of  those  ports,  solely  to  print  religious 
books  for  the  people.  Verily,  God  hath  done  great  things  for  us, 
whereof  we  are  glad.  The  Church  is  bound  to  render  to  God 
hearty  and  constant  thanks  for  the  field,  which,  in  his  gracious 
providence,  is  thus  thrown  open  before  her.  Let  there  be  no  more 
complaints  that  China  is  not  open,  and  her  people  not  accessible. 
China  is  open  as  widely  as  we  can  now  desire,  and  so  many  of 
her  people  are  accessible,  that  the  Church  will  find  it  difficult,  even 
if  she  put  forth  ten-fold  the  strength  she  has  hitherto  done,  ade- 
quately to  meet  their  wants. 

3.  It  has  been  strongly  and  repeatedly  impressed  upon  my 
mind,  from  what  I  have  lately  seen,  that  to  no  country  in  the 
world  will  our  Saviour's  words,  "to  the  poor  the  Gospel  is 
preached,"  be  found  so  applicable  as  to  China.  Many  people  look 
on  China  as  it  were  some  great  mine  of  gold  and  jewels,  where 
every  man  is  clothed  in  silks  and  faring  sumptuously  every  day ; 
but  nothing  can  be  further  from  the  true  state  of  the  case.  There 
are  many  wealthy  men  in  China,  and  wherever  the  missionary 
goes,  he  will  meet  them,  and  associate  with  them.  But  the  great 
mass  of  the  people  are  poor,  in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  term.  It 
cannot  but  be  so,  where  a  country  is  so  crowded  with  inhabitants, 
that  there  is  sometimes  hardly  room  to  bury  their  dead  out  of  their 
sight,  the  great  majority  of  the  people  must  be  poor.  You  see  it 
here,  in  the  coarse  clothing  they  wear,  the  food  they  eat,  the 
homes  they  inhabit,  the  furniture  they  use,  and  the  wages  they 
receive.  You  see  it  in  the  fact  that  their  only  coined  money  is  so 
small  that  it  requires  twelve  hundred  to  make  a  dollar,  and  happy 
is  he  who  receives  two  hundred  of  these  for  his  day's  labor.  Let 
the  missionary  whc  comes  to  China,  bear  this  in  mind.  The 


JOURNAL    IN    AMOY.  233 

brightest  talents  are  needed  in  preaching  to  the  poor,  but  espe- 
cially will  he  need  the  graces  of  humility  and  self-denial,  of  faith 
and  of  patience,  in  his  intercourse  with  this  people,  and  his  efforts 
to  instruct  them.  This  is  a  point  that  admits  of  much  enlarge- 
ment, both  in  proving  the  poverty  of  the  people,  if  that  be  neces- 
sary, and  in  speaking  of  the  qualifications  necessary  to  one  who 
labors  among  them.  But  a  word  to  the  wise  and  the  thoughtful, 
is  sufficient. 

4.  It  is  a  sad  and  melancholy  thing  to  be  obliged  to  refer  so 
often  as  I  have  done  to  the  prevalence  of  the  use  of  opium  in 
China.  The  number  of  vessels  employed,  and  the  amount  of  capi- 
tal embarked  in  the  opium  trade,  have  been  slightly  referred  to  in 
the  preceding  pages.  At  some  other  time  I  may  give  fuller  state- 
ments on  this  subject ;  but  at  present,  all  that  need  be  added,  is, 
that  the  half  has  not  been  told.  The  connivance  of  the  Chinese 
officers,  at  the  traffic,  and  the  eagerness  of  the  Chinese  people  to 
procure  the  drug,  have  also  been  referred  to.  I  have  only  further 
to  say,  that  wherever  I  have  been  in  China.  I  have  seen  it  used. 
In  all  the  opium  depots  along  the  coast,  it  is  of  course  freely  u^ed. 
At  Amoy,  "  every  man  who  can  afford  to  buy  it,  uses  it."  In  the 
little  island  of  San-pan-shan,  I  he  only  question  the  people  asked 
of  the  Christian  missionary,  was,  whether  he  had  opium  to  sell, 
and  there  he  saw  the  floor  of  the  idol  temple  covered  with  the  half- 
stupefied  smokers  of  opium.  While  at  Chang-Chow,  one  of  the 
officers  came  on  board  the  boat  where  we  lodged,  and  while  he 
was  on  board,  I  perceived  the  peculiar  smell  of  opium,  and  look- 
ing down,  saw  two  men  smoking  it  in  the  hold  beneath  my  feet. 
I  have  been  made  sick  by  the  smell  of  it,  in  an  opium  house  at 
Canton,  and  have  held  my  breath  as  I  passed  the  opium  dens  in 
Macao.  I  have  walked  on  the  steep  hill-sides  of  Hong  Kong,  and 
there  have  seen  common  beggars,  who  dwelt  "  in  cliffs  of  the  val- 
leys, in  caves  of  the  earth,  and  in  rocks" — and  who  were  too  poor 
to  buy  an  opium  pipe,  smoking  opium  out  of  a  little  earthen  vessel 
in  which  they  had  drilled  a  hole,  that  it  might  serve  as  a  substi- 
tute for  a  pipe  !  And  what  hope  can  there  be  for  such  a  people? 
Men  of  the  world,  honorable  and  upright  men  too,  will  sell  them 
opium  for  money.  The  Chinese  will  buy  it,  let  the  emperor 
thunder  against  it  as  long  as  he  chooses,  and  the  smoker  will  use 
it,  though  it  weakens  his  body,  impairs  his  mind,  stupefies  his  con- 
science, and  renders  him  miserable  when  not  under  its  influence. 
There  is  no  help  for  them  but  in  God.  The  use  of  opium  in  China 
will  never  be  abolished,  until  a  reformation,  similar  to  the  temper- 
ance reformation  of  America,  commence  among  the  people  them- 
selves. And  that  reformation  I  fear  wall  not  commence,  and  cer- 
tainly will  not  be  completed,  till  the  religion  of  Christ  takes  deep 
root,  and  becomes  the  predominant  power  in  China.  Let  Chris- 
tians, then,  cry  mightily  unto  God,  in  behalf  of  this  ancient  peo- 
ple. His  hand  is  not  shortened  that  it  cannot  save,  nor  his  ear 
heavy  that  it  cannot  hear. 


234  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 


Hong  Kong,  October  16th,  1843. 

After  getting  back  to  Amoy  on  Friday,  I  spent  part  of  that 
night  ami  the  next  day  in  writing  off  the  preceding  account.  A 
little  vessel  of  some  thirty  tons  burden,  here  called  a  Lorcha,  be- 
ing ahout  to  sail  for  Macao  and  Hong  Kong,  I  found  Mr.  Roberts 
had  taken  passage  in  her.  As  there  was  no  prospect  of  a  vessel 
soon  for  Hong  Kong  from  Amoy,  and  as  I  was  anxious  to  reach 
home  soon,  I  concluded  to  take  a  passage  in  her  too.  Mr.  Abeel 
did  not  want  me  to  go  so  soon  ;  and  certainly,  although  she  prom- 
ised a  safe  and  quick  passage,  there  was  every  prospect  of  its  be- 
ing an  uncomfortable  one,  the  vessel  being  so  small,  and  likely  to 
roll  so  much.  No  danger,  however,  was  apprehended,  and  the 
price  of  passage,  only  twenty  dollars,  was  an  inducement.  I  should 
probably  have  had  to  pay  forty  or  fifty  dollars,  besides  waiting 
sometime,  if  I  went  in  a  ship.  The  Lorcha  was  manned  by  three 
Englishmen  and  four  Chinese,  had  mat  sails,  and  had  recently 
come  up  from  Macao  against  the  monsoon. 

^  Monday  at  noon,  though  the  wind  was  very  high,  we  started. 
Soon  got  to  the  mouth  of  the  harbor ;  but  there  we  found  the  wind 
so  strong,  and  the  sea  so  high,  we  were  afraid  to  go  out,  and  there- 
fore put  back  to  wait  for  better  weather.  The  wind  abated  dur- 
ing the  night,  and  the  next  day,  we  started  again,  got  to  sea,  and 
were  fairly  on  our  course.  The  wind  was  still  strong,  and  the  sea 
rough,  but  we  went  on  finely,  and  in  six  hours  were  a  long  way 
off  from  Amoy.  Soon  after  dark,  however,  our  rudder  was  broken 
by  the  violence  of  a  wave  that  struck  it.  The  rudders  of  all  the 
Chinese  built  vessels  are  very  large  awkward  things,  and  very  apt  to 
be  broken.  We  found  ourselves  quite  helpless,  as  we  could  not 
direct  the  vessel's  course  at  all.  Being  quite  dark,  there  was 
nothing  we  could  do  but  heave  the  vessel  to  and  let  her  drift  till 
daylight.  In  so  small  a  vessel,  and  in  such  a  situation,  I  con- 
sidered it  a  little  unsafe,  and  kept  awake  nearly  all  night,  to  see 
how  she  would  behave.  But  though  the  wind  and  sea  were 
strong  and  rough,  she  rode  like  a  duck,  and  though  rolling  very 
much,  took  in  little  water.  Mr.  Roberts  was  very  sea-sick. 

Wednesday  morning,  the  weather  continued  clear  but  rough, 
and  we  found  ourselves  drifting  along  the  coast.  The  men  tried 
to  make  a  new  rudder  with  two  bamboo  poles,  but  it  would  not 
work.  They  then  slept  several  hours,  and  tried  to  repair  the  bro- 
ken rudder ;  but  did  it  so  awkwardly  that  it  also  was  useless. 
They  seemed  disposed  then  to  do  nothing  but  wait  for  calmer 
weather.  At  this  season  of  the  year  there  was  no  prospect  of  the 
weather  growing  worse  than  it  then  was.  I  knew,  also,  that  the 
course  of  the  wind  and  current  would  cause  us  to  drift  down  along 
the  coast  in  sight  of  land  as  far  as  Pedro  Branca,  a  rock  forty-five 
miles  from  Hong  Kong.  After  reaching  that  rock,  there  would 
be  danger  of  being  driven  out  into  the  open  China  Sea;  but  at 
the  rate  we  supposed  we  were  going,  we  did  not  expect  to  see  Pe- 


RETURN   TO   HONG    KONG.  235 

dro  Branca  for  five  or  six  days,  and  we  were  pretty  sure  in  that 
time  that  the  weather  would  moderate.  1  concluded,  therefore, 
that  there  was  no  immediate  cause  of  apprehension,  but  it  was 
very  unpleasant  to  think  of  spending  so  many  days  in  that  little 
rolling  damp  place.  Yet  there  seemed  to  be  no  help  for  it,  and  I 
tried  to  nerve  my  mind  to  bear  it.  A  little  spray  occasionally 
dashed  over  us,  and  sometimes  a  few  drops  forced  themselves 
through  the  windows,  and  made  our  sleeping  place  wet,  but,  alto- 
gether, it  was  very  far  superior  to  the  long-boat.  During  Wednes- 
day night  I  found  Mr.  Roberts  was  a  great  deal  alarmed.  However, 
I  was  an  older  sailor  than  he,  and  my  former  "  experience"  now 
wrought  "  hope,"  so  that  I  had  little  fear. 

Thursday  we  drifted  on,  gradually  however  edging  off  further 
from  the  land.  One  of  the  men  had  been  along  the  coast  fre- 
quently, and  said  he  knew  where  we  were,  all  the  time.  Accord- 
ing to  his  account,  we  were  drifting  at  about  thirty  miles  a  day. 

Thursday  night  also  Mr.  Roberts  was  much  alarmed,  and  I 
confess  I  did  not  myself  like  the  idea  of  our  getting  out  so  far  from 
land  as  we  evidently  were.  However,  I  slept  well,  as  I  had  done 
the  night  before.  The  weather  too  seemed  to  be  a  little  better ; 
wind  abating  some,  though  the  sea  was  still  rough. 

Friday  morning  at  daylight  we  could  scarcely  see  the  land,  and 
by  nine  o'clock  we  were  out  of  sight  of  it.  Finding  the  men 
were  disposed  to  do  very  little,  I  took  the  matter  in  hand,  and  rep- 
resenting the  danger  of  being  out  at  sea,  urged  the  propriety  of 
running  the  boat  on  shore  if  possible  ;  and  if  nothing  better  offered, 
of  trying  to  go  to  Hong  Kong  by  land.  This  stirred  them  up,  and 
they  agreed  to  try  and  repair  the  rudder  a  little  better,  and  do 
something  in  that  way  if  possible.  We  saw  several  fishing-boats 
going  out  to  fish,  a  pretty  sure  sign  that  the  fishermen  anticipated 
a  calm  time.  After  a  little  while  the  men  got  their  rudder  repair- 
ed. She  worked  admirably,  and  we  went  on  our  course  finely. 
"  Thank  God,"  said  one  of  the  men, "  we  shall  see  Pedro  Branca  to- 
night." This  was  before  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.  In  half  an  hour  or 
so,  I  said  to  the  captain,  "Is  that  an  English  or  a  Chinese  vessel, 
away  off  there?" — "-Well,  I  was  just  a  lookin  ;  oh,  I  'spose  it's  a 
Chinese  vessel."  The  mate  looked  at  it  steadfastly,  "  That !  that's 
Pedro  Branca  !  forty-five  miles  from  Hong  Kong  !"  So  it  was,  we 
had  drifted  a  hundred  miles  further  than  we  thought,  and  had 
come  altogether  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  in  less  than  three 
days !  How  providential  it  was  we  got  the  rudder  repaired  at  the 
time  we  did  !  If  we  had  not,  the  probability  is  we  should  on  that 
day  (Friday)  have  been  in  the  China  Sea ;  and  then  almost  our 
only  hope  would  have  been  to  have  been  picked  up  by  some  vessel. 
Truly  goodness  and  mercy  have  followed  me  hitherto. 

Saturday  morning  at  daylight  we  were  within  ten  miles  of 
Hong  Kong.  An  American  vessel  was  just  before  us.  As  soon 
as  the  men  saw  her,  they  said,  "  That's  an  American  ship."  "  How 
do  you  know?"  said  I.  "Oh,  any  one  who's  accustomed  to  vessels 


236  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

can  almost  always  tell  an  American  vessel,  they  always  look  so 
clean."  The  remark  is  one  often  made. 

We  anchored  at  nine  o'clock  A.  M.  in  Hong  Kong  harbor,  and 
havino-  breakfasted,  and  called  the  men  into  the  cabin  to  render 
thanks  to  God  for  the  goodness  and  mercy  received  on  our  voyage, 
we  went  ashore  ;  we  were  only  one  day  longer  in  coming  than 
we  had  expected  to  be,  notwithstanding  the  loss  of  our  rudder. 

Most  of  my  friends  in  Hong  Kong  declared  they  never  would 
go  to  sea  with  me,  as  the  elements  were  leagued  against  me,  and 
that  I  must  consider  myself  as  settled  in  Macao  or  Hong  Kong. 
The  ship  we  saw,  which  got  in  just  before  us,  was  the  Zenobia. 
I  did  not  get  my  letters  till  evening,  and  it  kept  me  till  bed-time 
to  get  through  with  all, — but  oh,  what  news !  a  beloved 
brother  hopefully  pious ;  a  donation  of  ten  thousand  dollars  for 
China ;  five  new  missionaries  preparing  for  the  same  great  field  ! 
My  heart  was  full.  For  hours  after  I  went  to  bed  I  could  not 
sleep.  Oh  how  I  thought  of  the  past,  the  present  and  the  future. 
I  sol  up  and  walked  about  the  room;  being  "merry,"  I  sang  a 
hymn  ;  and  knelt  down  to  pray.  Oh,  it  is  worth  a  great  deal  to 
get  such  news,  and  so  delightful  after  the  unpleasant  contrast  of 
the  week  previous. 

Found  the  Hepburns  had  started  about  ten  days  before  in  a 
very  fine  vessel  for  Amoy ;  was  very  glad  to  hear  it,  though  I 
knew  that  with  the  winds  they  had  had  they  could  make  little 
progress,  and  would  have  a  dreadfully  rough  time. 

Sabbath  (yesterday)  I  preached  in  the  chapel  here  in  the 
morning,  and  talked  to  the  boys  in  Mr.  Brown's  school  in  the 
evening. 

To-day  I  meant  to  have  gone  to  Macao,  but  not  being  able  to 
get  the  specie  on  board  the  Zenobia  safely  deposited,  I  found  it 
necessary  to  remain  another  day.  Just  about  four  o'clock,  who 
should  come  in  but  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hepburn,  driven  back  by  the  bad 
weather.  They  were  far  more  surprised  to  see  me  than  I  to  see 
them.  They  have  had  dreadful  weather,  and  a  rough  time. 
Poor  Mrs.  H.  was  very  sea-sick,  but  looks  quite  as  well  as  when  I 
left  Macao.  They  will  probably  start  in  a  few  days  to  make  a 
second  effort. 

Macao,  October  22d,  1843.  The  gale  in  which  we  lost  our 
rudder  in  the  Lorcha,  and  drifted  so  far,  was  quite  terrific  further 
south.  The  vessel  in  which  the  Hepburns  were,  had  to  put  back 
with  the  loss  of  spars,  sails,  &c. ;  several  other  vessels  had  also 
to  put  back,  and  this  last  week  in  Hong  Kong,  we  heard  that  the 
vessel  in  which  Mr.  Medhurst  and  Mr.  Milne  were  proceeding  to 
Chusan,  had  lost  her  top-masts,  had  her  captain  swept  overboard, 
and  drowned,  and  was  finally  obliged  to  put  into  Manila  in  dis- 
tress. Mr.  Milne,  describing  the  gale,  said  that  "  for  ten  hours 
they  expected  nothing  but  death." 

This  week  I  have  had  a  regular  attack  of  chill  and  fever,  the 
first  for  thirteen  years.  It  was  brought  on,  I  have  no  doubt,  by 


RETURN    TO    MACAO.  237 

the  exposure  of  the  last  six  weeks.  Last  Thursday  was  the 
first  day  I  have  spent  in  bed  from  sickness,  for  more  than  eight 
years. 

How  much  reason  I  have  for  thankfulness  in  having  been 
spared  so  long  !  But  a  very  little  sickness  would  soon  knock  me 
up.  My  constitution  is  naturally  so  weak,  that  it  takes  me  a  long 
time  to  recover  from  even  a  short  illness.  But  I  felt  very  little 
anxiety  on  that  score.  It  is  a  lonely  thing  to  be  sick  in  a  strange 
land,  but  it  leads  one  closer  to  the  best  and  the  all-present  friend. 

It  is  Saturday  night !  everything  is  quiet,  except  an  occasional 
sound  of  music,  reminding  me  of  the  notes  of  a  French  horn  I 
once  heard  on  a  canal  boat,  near  Pittsburgh.  It  was  a  little  be- 
fore daylight  I  heard  them ;  but  it  was  far,  far  away,  and  long, 
long  ago.  Now  !  there  goes  a  fruiterer,  beating  a  couple  of  bam- 
boo sticks  together.  You  never  hear  such  sounds,  so  sharp  and 
clear,  in  the  United  States.  The  sound  of  music  transported  me 
away,  but  the  sharp  clicking  of  the  huckster's  sticks  reminded  me 
again  that  "  I  am  a  stranger  in  the  earth." 

October  24th.  How  sad  and  mysterious  oftentimes  are  the,|pt 
pensations  of  Providence.  I  must  close  my  journal  with  the  death 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dyer,  who  has  been  so  long  engaged  in  preparing 
Chinese  metal  type.  He  came  up  here  in  July  with  the  other  mis- 
sionaries of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  to  attend  a  missionary 
meeting  ordered  by  their  society  in  Hong  Kong.  After  transacting 
all  the  business  required,  he  went  to  Canton  to  see  the  place,  and  was 
there  taken  with  the  disease  that  has  prevailed  so  fearfully  in 
Hong  Kong  this  year.  He  began  to  recover,  took  his  passage  in 
a  vessel  going  to  Singapore,  and  came  clown  to  Hong  Kong;  I  saw 
him  there  on  board  his  ship,  the  day  I  got  back  from  Amoy.  He 
was  recovering  rapidly.  The  vessel  came  over  here,  and  was  un- 
expectedly detained  several  days :  he  had  a  relapse,  was  brought 
ashore  to  our  house,  and  died  this  morning  at  ten  o'clock.  Yes- 
terday his  mind  was  wandering  all  day,  but  this  morning  he  was 
sensible,  knew  us  all,  knew  he  was  dying,  said  he  felt  "  very 
happy,"  and  often  repeated  "  sweet  Jesus,  sweet  Jesus."  I  was 
with  him  when  he  died.  His  spirit  seemed  to  depart  with  scarcely 
a  struggle.  He  had  been  out  in  this  region  seventeen  years,  and 
there  is  no  one  who  can  take  the  place  he  occupied.  He  has  left 
a  wife  and  four  children.  Humanly  speaking,  his  death  is  a 
very  great  loss.  He  was  a  man  of  piety  and  prayer,  and  of  a  mosl 
Catholic  spirit. 

Thus  we  go  :  one  after  another  is  called  to  his  long  home.  In 
one  respect,  the  death  of  these  servants  of  God  is  even  cheering. 
Their  work  is  finished,  and  thus  another  part  of  the  great  work 
God  has  to  do  on  earth  is  accomplished.  It  will  not  have  to  be 
done  again.  .  .  . 


238  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

Macao,  October  26th,  1843. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER— 

In  your  letter  of  April  5th.  1843,  you  express  a  wish  for 
some  more  definite  information  respecting  Morrison's  translation 
of  the  Bible,  and  also  the  various  tracts  that  have  been  published 
by  the  missionaries.  Some  of  my  previous  letters  had  character- 
ized Dr.  Morrison's  translation  as  being  a  very  imperfect  one,  and 
unintelligible  to  the  Chinese.  You  remark,  "  If  Morrison's  Trans- 
lation be  so  imperfect,  when  are  we  to  have  a  better?  Of  his 
honesty  no  one  entertains  a  doubt.  His  long  service  for  the  Com- 
pany, and  that  to  their  satisfaction,  shows  his  ability  as  a  Chinese 
scholar.  Now,  when  are  we  to  get  a  superior  to  him  as  a  Chinese 
scholar  ?" 

These  suggestions  appear  to  have  force,  and  I  do  not  wonder 
that  the  committee  were  surprised  to  hear  a  Translation  by  such 
a  man  characterized  as  exceedingly  imperfect.  But  there  are 

Eral  considerations  that  will,  I  think,  remove  much  of  the  sur- 
,  and  show  that,  in  the  nature  of  things,  his  translation  must 
3ry  defective,  and  that  a  better  one  may  reasonably  soon  be 
expected. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  Dr.  Morrison  was  the  first  Prot- 
estant missionary  who  commenced  the  study  of  Chinese.  When 
he  commenced  it,  there  were  no  facilities  whatever  for  the  study. 
He  had  to  make  his  own  Grammar,  and  his  own  Dictionary.  He 
had  to  study  out  every  phrase  and  form  for  himself  and  by 
himself.  Now,  Dr.  Morrison  was  a  man  of  sound  mind  and  pa- 
tient industry,  but  no  one  considers  him  a  man  of  exalted  genius. 
He  could  not  run  through  a  language,  and  thoroughly  apprehend 
its  whole  spirit,  in  the  compass  of  a  few  years ;  still  less  can  it  be 
supposed,  that  he  could  speedily  master  the  Chinese  language,  the 
most  difficult  of  all  languages,  when  he  was  utterly  unprovided 
with  helps  for  its  acquisition.  He  was  in  the  service  of  the  Com- 
pany, and  perhaps  one  of  the  most  profitable  servants  they  ever 
had ;  yet  his  service  for  them,  after  a  while,  could  have  little 
benefit  on  his  knowledge  of  Chinese  as  far  as  the  translation  of 
Scripture  was  concerned.  The  phrases,  and  idioms,  and  general 
language  he  used  in  their  service,  were  not  the  kind  wanted  in 
translating  the  Scripture.  The  man  who  is  constantly  talking 
about  dollars  and  cents,  and  quarrelling,  as  he  was  often  obliged 
to  do,  with  the  Chinese,  may  soon  attain  a  great  deal  of  fluency 
in  language  appropriate  to  such  subjects,  but  very  unsuitable  for 
a  version  of  the  oracles  of  God.  Add  to  this,  that  his  time  ^vas  so 
constantly  employed,  first,  in  preparation  of  his  Dictionary,  and, 
second,  in  the  Company's  service,  and  what  is  most  important  of 
all,  that  his  version  of  the  Scriptures  was  not  made  after  he  had 
fully  acquired  the  Chinese  language,  but  while  he  was  yet  learn- 
ing it,  and  you  will  see  abundant  reasons  for  supposing,  a  priori^ 
that  it  must  prove  a  defective  one.  He  commenced  it  in  less  than 


LETTERS.  239 

five  years  after  he  first  began  to  study  Chinese ;  printed  the  Acts 
in  1810,  only  three  years  after  his  arrival  in  China ;  prosecuted 
his  translation,  "  with  many  an  aching  head  from  his  duties  as 
translator  to  the  Company,"  and  finished  it  in  1819.  The  printing 
of  it  was  finished  in  1822.  And  his  subsequent  revisions  and  cor- 
rections were  very,  very  slight  indeed.  Here,  then,  is  the  state  of 
the  case: — Dr.  Morrison,  without  any  assistance,  but  by  his  own 
unaided  efforts,  commenced  and  prosecuted  the  study  of  the  Chi- 
nese. At.  a  very  early  period  in  his  studies,  he  began  to  translate 
and  print  the  Scriptures.  He  carried  on  his  translation  when  oc- 
cupied with  a  load  of  other  business;  and  he  finished  it  before  he 
had  half  finished  his  own  missionary,  life.  The  time  he  actually 
spent  in  translation  and  revision  was  but  twelve  years.  He  had 
Dr.  Milne's  help  part  of  the  time,  for  part  of  the  work  ;  but  how  is 
it  possible  that  so  great  a  work  as  the  translation  of  the  Bible, 
made  into  so  difficult  a  language  as  the  Chinese,  by  so  few  men, 
with,  in  the  nature  of  the  case,  such  limited  acquaintance  of  the 
languages  into  which  and  from  which  they  translated,  while  each 
of  them  had  so  many  other  cares  and  duties  pressing  on  them, 
should  be  otherwise  than  very  defective  and  imperfect  ?  The 
wonder  is  that  they  accomplished  so  much  as  they  did  ;  but  I  am 
more  and  more  convinced  that  Dr.  Morrison's  fame  must  rest  on 
his  Dictionary,  rather  than  on  his  Translation  of  the  Scriptures. 

You  refer  to  the  testimony  given  by  Messrs.  Evans,  Dyer,  and 
Kidd,  in  favor  of  Morrison's  and  against  Medhurst's  Translation. 
This  is  a  melancholy  subject  to  refer  to.  All  three  of  these  men 
are  now  deceased.  Mr.  Dyer  was  one  of  the  excellent  of  the 
earth,  and  went  to  his  rest  rejoicing,  but  two  days  ago.  He  died 
in  this  house;  and  from  the  desk  where  I  now  write,  I  could  hear 
him  exclaim,  ere  he  departed,  "Sweet  Jesus,  sweet  Jesus."  But 
though  he  was  a  good  man,  and  full  of  faith,  he  was  not  in  all 
respects  well  qualified  to  judge  of  such  a  matter 

The  new  version  is  confessedly  very  imperfect ;  but  at  a  late 
meeting  of  most  of  the  Protestant  missionaries  in  China,  it  was 
voted  unanimously,  Mr.  Dyer  among  them,  that  the  last  version 
was  much  superior  to  any  preceding  one.  Thus  the  matter  now 
stands  in  regard  to  versions  already  made. 

While  the  London  Missionary  Society  missionaries  were  in  Hong 
Kong,  they  held,  in  conjunction  with  all  the  then  missionaries 
there,  being  altogether  about  three-fourths  of  all  the  missionaries 
in  China,  a  convention,  to  devise  measures  for  a  new  translation. 
I  attended  one  or  two  of  the  meetings,  and  have  seen  the  proceed- 
ings of  all, — the  most  of  which  I  approve  of.  The  plan  is,  to  take 
up  the  New  Testament  first ;  divide  it  into  five  portions,  and  assign 
one  to  each  station  where  there  are  missionaries  competent  to  the 
task.  After  each  station  has  finished  its  portion,  it  is  to  send  a 
copy  to  every  other  station.  After  they  have  all  revised  each 
other's  work,  one  person  is  to  be  selected  from  each  station  ;  these 
are  to  meet  together,  and  revise  and  publish  the  whole.  The 


240  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

stations  are,  1.  Ningopo  and  Shanghai;  2.  Fuhchow ;  3.  Amoy, 
4.  Hong  Kong  and  Canton  ;  5.  Bankok.  It  is  supposed  that  sev- 
eral years,  say  four  or  five,  will  be  required  to  complete  the  work. 
I  have  my  fears  that  the  plan  will  be  found  quite  too  complicated, 
and  that,  from  the  distance  of  the  stations  from  each  other,  it  will 
not  work  very  well ;  while  the  very  different  qualifications  of  the 
persons  at  the  different  stations  will  produce  a  work  of  very  un- 
equal merit  in  its  parts.  But  perhaps  it  is  the  best  plan  that  could 
well  be  devised. 

In  regard  to  the  tracts,  many  of  the  remarks  made  on  the 
translation  of  Morrison's  Bible  are  equally  applicable  to  them. 
They  have  been  made  in  the  early  stages  of  the  missionaries' 
studies.  One  or  two  of  Medhurst's  are  very  good,  and  one  or  two 
of  Milne's.  The  Two  Friends,  by  the  latter,  is  perhaps  the  best 
Chinese  tract  we  have,  and  it  is  generally  understood.  Yet  only 
a  short  time  ago,  my  Chinese  teacher,  who  has  been  associating 
with  foreigners  for  ten  years,  and  understands  our  modes  of 
thought  very  well,  while  reading  it  came  to  a  sentence  which 
puzzled  him.  At  last  he  said,  "Oh,  now  I  understand  it,  but  I 
don't  think  that  a  Chinese  who  is  unacquainted  with  the  foreign- 
ers would."  Indeed  I  do  not  think  the  true  nature  of  the  Chinese 
language  is  yet  understood  by  most  of  those  who  study  it.  It  is 
common  to  call  it  a  monosyllabic  language.  It  is  no  more  mono- 
syllabic than  our  good  old  Saxon  English  :  for  there  are  hundreds 
and  thousands  of  dissyllables  in  Chinese,  and  the  want  of  a 
proper  knowledge  of  these,  is  one  of  the  great  defects  in  our  ac- 
quaintance with  the  language.  Mr.  Medhurst  was  studying  it 
before  I  was  born ;  and  yet  he  told  me  not  long  ago,  that  he  was 
often  puzzled  even  yet  by  the  compound  characters. 

There  is  no  foreigner  living  perfectly  acquainted  with  the  lan- 
guage ;  and  even  those  who  speak  it  really  very  well,  often  make 
mistakes  in  writing  it,  and  use  phrases  and  idioms  that  a  Chinese 
never  uses  and  does  not  understand.  A  learned  man  among  the 
Chinese,  may  be  able  to  pick  some  sense  out  of  their  writings ; 
but  a  common  man,  and  the  mass  of  our  Chinese  readers  are  and 
will  be  common  men,  are  often  at  a  loss  to  find  the  sense.  The 
subject  is  strange  to  them ;  the  ideas  are  entirely  new,  and  it  is 
no  wonder  if  an  uneducated  man  is  mystified,  when  a  character 
is  used  in  an  improper  sense.  The  mistakes  made  sometimes  are 
quite  ludicrous  ;  and  occasionally  things  are  printed  in  Chinese 
that,  are  ridiculous.  For  example,  last  January  Mr.  -  -  pub- 
lished a  Chinese  Christian  Almanac.  In  the  almanac  was  an 
account  of  the  planets.  Wishing  to  say,  that  Jupiter  had  four 
moons,  he  actually  transferred  the  word  satellites  into  Chinese, 
making  sa-tie-urh-le-tee  out  of  it !  I  could  hardly  believe  my  eyes 
when  I  saw  this.  Why  he  did  not  say  that  Jupiter  has  sze  yue, 
four  moons,  I  cannot  conceive ;  but,  I  am  sure  it  would  puzzle  a 
Chinese,  as  much  as  it  would  an  Englishman,  to  know  what  sa- 
tie-urh-le-tee  meant. 


LETTERS.  241 

A  good  many  tracts  have  been  written  in  Chinese.  Some  of 
them  are  good,  and  deserve  to  be  widely  circulated ;  some  might 
be  made  good  by  careful  revision  ;  some,  and  I  suppose  by  far 
the  larger  part,  ought  to  be  entirely  rewritten.  I  do  not  think 
that  this  is  at  all  to  be  wondered  at.  See  what  a  language  we 
have  to  learn  ;  see  how  short  a  time  the  majority  of  Chinese  mis- 
sionaries have  spent  in  studying  it ;  see  how  hastily  many  of 
them  have  written  after  commencing  to  learn  it.  The  wonder 
rather  is,  that  so  much  that  is  good  has  been  written.  How 
many  of  the  translations  and  productions  of  the  first  missionaries 
to  India  are  now  in  use?  It  is  less  than  forty  years  since  the 
first  missionary  came,  and  may  be  said  to  be  less  than  thirty  since 
anything  was  done  here,  in  the  way  of  direct  missionary  effort; 
for  there  were  but  two  before  Mr.  Medhurst,  and  he  has  been  here-, 
but  twenty-seven  years.  Our  numbers  are  increasing ;  great 
variety  of  talent  is  coming  into  the  field;  the  facilities  for  learn- 
i«jg  the  language  are  daily  increasing,  and  with  the  blessing  of 
God,  I  trust  that  ere  long  a  brighter  day  will  break,  it  dawns  al- 
ready upon  the  literature  of  China.  In  the  mean  lime,  however, 
we  shall  not  hasten  the  coming  of  that  day,  by  saying  there  is 
not  now  a  darkness  around  us.  Rather  let  our  eyes  be  opened 
to  see  how  dark  it  is,  and  then  we  shall  know  better  how  much 
light  we  want,  and  how  much  we  want  light.  It  is  not  necessary, 
I  suppose,  to  bring  these  statements  before  the  public ;  but  it  is 
absolutely  necessary  that  those  who  manage  the  affairs  of  the  mis- 
sion here  should  know  precisely  what  the  state  of  the  case  is.  I 
trust  the  committee  will  not  consider  these  remarks  as  discourag- 
ing in  their  nature.  I  look  on  them  as  quite  the  reverse.  Let 
us  know  wherein  we  have  failed  in  times  past,  and  then  the  way 
is  clear  to  avoid  such  failure  in  time  to  come.  The  experience 
of  the  past  is  gain  to  us  for  the  future.  The  work,  to  be  sure,  i» 
very  difficult,  but  therefore,  so  much  the  more  must  we  exert 
ourselves ;  and  while  we  exert  ourselves,  let  us  look  to  the 
strong  for  strength,  and  to  the  wise  for  wisdom.  I  never  feel  so 
much  hope  of  ultimate  success  in  our  work,  as  when  the  view  of 
the  difficulties  here  presses  most  strongly ;  because  then  I  am 
driven  away  from  all  dependence  on  human  strength,  and  seek 
to  rest  on  that  almighty  arm  which  is  ever  stretched  out,  and  to 
look  for  the  guidance  of  him  who  is  infinite  in  council  and  in 
knowledge. 

But  I  have  perhaps  written  enough  on  the  subject  of  transla- 
tions and  tracts.  .  .  . 

Your  affectionate  son,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  October  27th,  1843. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

The  past  fifteen  months  have  been  times  of  sore  trial,  in  one 
respect  or  other,  to  the  Protestant  missionaries  in  China.     I  have 

16 


242  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

been  struck,  in  looking  over  the  list  of  those  in  this  part  of  the 
world,  to  see  that  scarcely  a  single  one  has  escaped  without  some 
personal  affliction,  either  of  sickness  or  accident,  or  some  deeply 
painful  bereavement.  Mrs.  Boone  died  at  Ku-lang-su,  August 
30th,  1842,  and  her  husband  has  since  been  obliged  to  return  to 
the  United  States,  partly  on  account  of  his  own  impaired  health, 
and  partly  for  the  sake  of  his  motherless  children.  Mrs.  Dean 
died  in  Hong  Kong,  in  March,  1843.  Dr.  Hepburn,  Dr.  Hobson, 
and  Mr.  Stronach,  have  each  lost  a  son  within  the  year.  Dr. 
Lockhart  has  been  called  to  mourn  the  death  of  an  only  child  in 
the  same  time.  Mr.  Medhurst,  Mr.  Milne,  and  myself,  have  either 
been  shipwrecked  or  most  narrowly  escaped  it.  Mr.  Brown's 
house  in  Hong  Kong  was  attacked  and  plundered  by  a  gang  of 
robbers  in  the  night.  Mr.  McBryde  has  been  obliged  to  return  to 
the  United  States,  from  failure  of  health.  But  a  day  or  two  since, 
Mr.  Dyer,  who  had  spent  seventeen  years  in  laboring  for  the  Chi- 
nese, was  removed  by  death,  when  absent  from  his  family ;  and 
almost  every  other  missionary  here  has  had  attacks  of  sickness 
more  or  less  severe.  We  have  all  met  with  a  severe  loss  in  the 
death  of  the  Hon.  John  R.  Morrison,  who  died  on  the  29th  of  last 
August.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  Dr.  Morrison,  the  first 
Protestant  missionary  to  China.  There  was  bitter  mourning  here 
when  he  died,  for  probably  no  foreigner  in  China  was  so  popular 
with  all  classes  as  he.  His  acquaintance  with  the  language  and 
manners  of  the  Chinese,  his  mental  abilities,  and  his  business  hab- 
its, rendered  his  services  invaluable  to  the  English  government,  and 
his  death  at  this  period,  has  been  well  called  "a  national  loss." 
His  kindness  and  urbanity  of  manners,  and  his  readiness  to  oblige, 
made  him  a  favorite  with  all  who  knew  him ;  and  his  ardent  piety, 
his  influence,  and  his  sincere  desires  to  assist  the  missionaries  in 
their  labors,  make  us  all  feel  that  we  have  lost  our  best  human 
friend  in  China.  I  shall  not  soon  forget  the  deep  feeling  with 
which  he  once  said  to  me,  "  I  wish  you  would  call  on  me  when- 
ever you  think  I  can  be  of  service  to  you.  I  cannot  be  a  mission- 
ary myself,  but  I  wish  to  make  it  my  first  object  to  assist  those 
who  are,  and  to  further  the  cause  of  Christ  in  China."  Such  I 
doubt  not  were  his  real  sentiments  ;  and  his  actions  showed  that 
they  were  not  mere  feelings.  I  fear  we  shall  not  soon  see  his 
equal  among  us  again. 

It  is  a  question  of  much  interest,  what  is  the  design  of  God  in 
sending  all  these  afflictions  on  his  servants  here,  and  in  thus  re- 
moving one  and  another  apparently  so  well  qualified  for  his  ser- 
vice, and  whose  loss  it  is  so  difficult  to  replace.  It  may  be  that 
we  have  grievously  offended  him  by  our  lukewarmness  in  his  ser- 
vice in  times  past;  and  thus  he  corrects  us  for  our  iniquities. 
When  his  judgments  are  among  us  may  we  learn  righteousness, 
while  our  time  lasts,  may  we  be  diligent  in  his  service  ! 

Perhaps  these  afflictions  are  intended  to  teach  another  lesson. 
When  God  has  any  great  work  for  any  of  his  servants  to  do,  he 


LETTERS.  243 

usually  prepares  them  for  it  by  a  previous  and  often  painful  train- 
ing. It  may  be  he  has  some  great  work  in  store  to  be  accom- 
plished by  the  missionaries  in  China ;  and  by  these  trying  dispen- 
sations of  his  providence,  he  is  exercising  our  faith  and  cultivating 
our  graces,  that  we  may  the  more  acceptably  serve  him,  and  the 
more  skilfully  gather  in  the  harvest  of  this  great  field.  There  are 
also  other  considerations  worthy  to  be  attended  to.  A  train  of 
thought  occurred  to  me  shortly  after  hearing  of  Mrs.  Dean's 
death,  that  may,  perhaps,  not  prove  uninteresting,  and  without 
further  apology  I  offer  it  here. 

The  death  of  missionaries  is  in  some  respects,  and  especially  to 
the  apprehension  of  sense,  painful  and  discouraging.  The  need 
of  laborers,  particularly  in  China,  is  so  great,  our  numbers  are  so 
few,  and  it  is  so  difficult  to  obtain  more,  that  we  feel  the  loss  of 
even  one,  very  sensibly.  Especially  is  this  the  case,  when  one  so 
well  qualified  for  usefulness  as  Mrs.  D.  is  removed.  She  had  been 
here  so  long  as  to  have  made  good  progress  in  acquiring  the  lan- 
guage; and  her  prospects  of  continued  health  were  as  fair  as  those 
of  any  of  her  companions.  But  she  is  gone  with  sudden  sickness^ 
cut  down  and  withered  like  a  flower.  Her  sun  is  gone  down 
while  it  is  yet  day,  and  we  are  left  to  mourn  her  absence.  For 
her  we  do  not  weep.  She  is  "gone  into  peace,  resting  upon  her 
bed,  walking  in  uprightness."  Already  it  has  been  said  to  her, 
"  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant,  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of 
thy  Lord  !"  We  sorrow  only  for  ourselves,  and  for  the  church  ; 
and  yet  our  feelings  should  not  all  be  sorrowful,  for  there  is  joy 
even  to  ourselves,  connected  with  thoughts  of  the  departure  of  the 
servants  of  God. 

To  the  eye  of  faith,  the  death  of  laborers  in  the  great  field  of 
the  world,  is  hardly  an  object  of  discouragement.  We  know  that 
God  directs  all  things;  we  know  that  he  has  "determined  the 
times  before  appointed,  and  the  bounds  of  men's  habitation."  "  Our 
days  are  determined,  and  the  number  of  our  months  is  with  him ; 
and  he  has  appointed  our  bounds,  which  we  cannot  pass."  Job 
xiv.  5.  He  has  a  work  for  each  of  us  to  do,  and  when  our  work 
is  done,  he  will  call  us  to  go  and  be  with  him.  But  surely  not  be- 
fore it  is  done : 

"  Man  is  immortal  till  his  work  is  done." 

We  may  be  sure,  therefore,  that  God  would  not  have  called  the 
spirit  of  our  fellow-laborer  away,  if  she  had  not  finished  trfe  work 
he  had  for  her  to  do.  What,  then,  should  be  our  conclusion,  when 
we  see  one  after  another  departing?  Not,  surely,  that  God  will 
now  permit  his  church  to  suffer  loss  for  want  of  their  services. 
We  should  rather  say,  "  God,  whose  plans  include  every  event  of 
providence,  has  now  finished  another  part  of  his  great  work ; 
and  having  no  further  employment  here  for  the  servant,  engaged 
in  that  part  of  the  work,  he  has  sent  to  call  her  home." 

Thus  as  one  after  another  is  removed,  we  may  say,  "  Another 


£44  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

and  yet  another  part  of  the  work  is  done.  It  is  completed,  and 
needs  not  to  be  gone  over  again.  The  tears  that  have  been  shed 
will  not  need  to  fall  again  ;  the  sorrows  that  have  been  endured 
are  not  again  to  be  endured  ;  the  labors  that  ha''e  been  perform- 
ed will  not  again  be  required."  To  us,  with  oui  weak  eyes  and 
feeble  sight,  the  work  of  each  may  seem  unfinished  when  they 
go ;  but  it  seems  not  so  to  God.  We  know  that  his  own  cause  is 
infinitely  dear  to  him,  and  He  will  not  suffer  it  to  fail  for  want  of 
laborers.  If  our  work  is  done,  and  surely  He  best  knows  when 
il  is  done,  why  should  we  wish  to  tarry  longer,  or  seek  to  detain 
our  fellow-laborers  from  the  rest,  the  rewards,  and  the  glorious 
clowns  that  await  them  ? 

To  us  who  are  left  behind,  these  bereavements  are  not  in  all 
respects  discouraging.  What  is  our  condition,  at  best?  Is  it  not 
one  of  toil,  and  of  trial,  and  of  trouble — of  sorrow  and  affliction, 
of  labor  and  temptation?  Do  not  disappointments  cluster  thick 
around  us,  and  our  inward  corruptions  at.  times  rise  up  and  boil 
over,  till  we  are  ready  to  say,  "Oh,  let  me  not  live  always,"  and 
we  even  dread  the  idea  of  long  life  on  earth?  Is  it  not  at  times 
appalling  to  think  of  ten  or  twenty  or  thirty  years  of  such  inces- 
sant conflicts  and  labors?  But  why  thus  look  forward?  Why 
trouble  ourselves  with  the  anticipations  of  future  evil?  What  we 
fear  and  shrink  from,  may  never  come  upon  us.  We  may  not 
live  to  see  the  evil  days  that  shall  yet  come  upon  the  earth. 
Only  two  short  weeks  have  passed  since  our  friend  was  in  health 
and  vigor.  She  might  have  looked  forward  to  as  long  a  life  as 
any  of  us.  She  might  have  dreaded  the  evils  we  anticipate.  Now 
her  trials  are  over,  and  over  forever.  While  we  are  still  battling 
with  the  storm  and  the  tempest,  she  is  safe  in  the  harbor. 
While  we  often  hang  our  harps  upon  the  willows  by  the  rivers  of 
Babylon,  she  is  singing  in  the  temples  of  Jerusalem.  Let  this  be 
our  encouragement.  We  know  not  the  time  to  go.  It  may  be 
very  near.  Behold,  "  the  night  is  far  spent  and  the  day  is  at 
hand."  The  waves  are  wasting  their  strength ;  the  storm  is 
nearly  over.  The  battle  is  almost  fought,  and  the  victory  is 
nearly  won.  "The  time  of  our  salvation  is  nearer  than  when 
we  believed;"  and  oh  how  joyful  that  salvation  will  be,  after  such 
trials!  Indeed  they  will  greatly  enhance  its  preciousness,  and  we 
shall  not  then  regret  them.  Think  you  that  our  sister  now  re- 
grets having  left  friends  and  home  to  dwell  among  strangers?  or 
is  sorry' that  here  she  wandered  about,  having  no  certain  dwelling- 
place?  Is  it  a  sad  thing  to  her  that  here  she  was  tossed  on  the 
rough  sea?  that  all  alone  she  buried  her  first-born  child  upon  a 
strange  shore,  and  in  a  heathen  land?  No!  Heaven  will  be  the 
sweeter,  after  these  bitter  draughts;  rest  more  delightful,  after 
Chese  toils :  the  haven  more  charming  by  contrast  of  the  rough 
sea  without. 

It  is  encouraging  to  think  that  home  may  be  so  near.  We  are 
like  sailors,  who  have  indeed  a  compass  to  direct  our  course,  but 


LETTERS.  245 

no  means  of  ascertaining  when  our  voyage  shall  end.  All  around 
is  one  wide  waste,  and  sea  and  sky  alone  meet  our  gaze.  W« 
have  sailed  for  many  days  over  these  troubled  seas,  and  it  may  be 
many  days  yet  before  we  make  the  land ;  and  yet,  to-morrow 
morning  may  show  it  in  full  view.  Our  time  cannot  be  long. 
Let  this,  then,  encourage  us  to  bear  cheerfully  its  toils  and  trials, 
and  to  labor  diligently  while  it  lasts. 

"  The  righteous  perisheth,  and  no  man  layeth  it  to  heart ;  and 
righteous  men  are  taken  away,  none  considering  that  the  righteous 
is  taken  away  from  the  evil  to  come."  If  this  be  so,  then  rejoice 
for  those  who  depart — but  pray  for  those  who  remain. 

Your  affectionate  son,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  October  21st,  1843. 
REV.  J.  C.  LOWRIE — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : —  ....  I  am  quite  at  a  loss  as  to  my  own 
future  course.  It  really  seems  as  if  Providence  did  not  intend  that  I 
should  leave  Macao  or  Hong  Kong.  Last  year  I  made  two  efforts 
in  splendid  ships  to  go  to  Singapore  and  failed,  but  came  back 
here  in  safety  in  an  old  and  leaky  ship  that  required  almost  con- 
stant pumping  to  keep  her  afloat.  This  year  I  tried  to  go  to 
Chusan  in  a  vessel  that  was  very  well  recommended,  and  where 
every  possible  precaution  had  been  taken  by  the  other  passengers 
to  have  everything  on  board  necessary  for  the  convenience  and 
success  of  the  voyage.  Yet  we  were  most  shamefully  treated,  the 
vessel  was  found  to  be  utterly  unfit  for  sea,  and  we  were  obliged 
to  turn  about  without  accomplishing  our  voyage.  I  returned  here 
in  a  little  boat  from  Amoy,  in  which  one-half  the  people  out  here 
would  not  have  ventured  to  go  We  did  meet  an  accident,  break- 
ing our  rudder,  which  might  have  proved  a  serious  one ;  and  for 
a  while  I  almost  felt  about  the  sea,  as  David  did  of  his  great 
persecutor :  "I  shall  surely  perish  one  day  by  the  hand  of  Saul." 
But  through  the  good  hand  of  our  God  upon  us,  we  succeeded  in 
repairing  the  rudder,  and  reached  Hong  Kong  in  safety  after  a 
quick  passage.  What  am  I  to  think  of  these  things  ?  Personally 
I  have  no  desire  to  remain  in  this  part  of  the  country,  but  rather 
the  contrary.  The  conveniences  of  living  comfortably  may  be 
enjoyed  to  a  much  greater  extent  here  than  at  any  other  part; 
but  the  opportunities  for  direct  usefulness  among  the  people  are 
far  less.  My  acquaintances  all  tell  me,  jokingly,  that  I  am  not 
to  leave  Macao ;  and  indeed  for  the  present  I  see  but  little  pros- 
pect of  it.  As  far  as  I  can  see  now,  I  am  fixed  here  for  a  year 
and  a  half  yet.  And  it  is  now  a  pretty  serious  question,  whether 
it  would  not  be  best  to  take  up  this  dialect,  the  Canton.  Hitherto 
I  have  attended  to  the  court  dialect,  as  being  the  one  I  should 
probably  find  most  useful  in  the  northern  parts. 

However,  I  trust  my  way  will  yet  be  made  plain.  Hitherto  the 
Lord  has  led  me  by  ways  that  I  knew  not,  and  hereafter  he  will 


246  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

doubtless  lead  me  by  the  best  road.  My  hopes  have  been  disap- 
pointed more  than  once  ;  and  yet  in  every  case  I  have  seen  after- 
wards that  it  was  for  the  best.  It  is  a  good  thing  to  be  tried  with 
disappointments,  at  least  it  has  taught  me  practically ;  patience 
worketh  experience  and  experience  hope. 

I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  kind  offer  to  replace  the 
Morning  Exercises  and  the  Bible ;  but  I  think  you  will  find  if 
you  look  again,  that  my  language  is  "  quite  definite ;"  that  the 
latter  does  not  need  replacing.  It  has  gone  with  me  through 
many  different  places  and  scenes,  and  I  value  it  more  than  I 
could  well  express.  My  health  continues  very  good,  except  that 
I  had  an  attack  of  chill  and  fever  a  few  days  ago,  caused  proba- 
bly by  the  exposure  of  my  late  trip.  The  trip  did  me  a  great 
deal  of  good  in  other  respects.  I  had  been  worn  down  by  the 
hot  summer,  but  seem  (o  be  quite  revived  and  invigorated  now. 
The  thermometer  stands  a  little  above  70°  now. 
I  remain  your  affectionate  brother. 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 

P.  S.  I  forgot  to  mention  that  I  have  lately  become  acquainted 
with  W.  C.  Milne,  and  have  been  very  much  pleased  with  him. 
He  mentioned  having  met  you  in  London  some  years  ago,  and 
wished  to  be  very  cordially  remembered  to  you.  He  lately  came 
over-land  from  Ningpo  to  Hong  Kong  dressed  in  Chinese  clothes, 
wearing  a  tail,  and  escaped  without  detection,  until  he  arrived 
within  a  few  miles  of  Hong  Kong.  I  believe  Sir  Henry  Pottinger 
was  not  at  all  satisfied,  that  he  made  such  an  excursion.  He 
described  it  as  having  been  a  very  interesting  one,  and  I  suppose 
will  publish  some  account  of  it  in  the  Chinese  Repository  ere 
long. 


Macao,  November  4th,  1843. 

To  THE  SOCIETY  OP  INQUIRY  IN  THE  WESTERN  THEOLOG- 
ICAL SEMINARY. 

DEAR  BRETHREN  : — On  the  27th  of  July,  this  year,  a  letter 
was  put  into  my  hands,  addressed  to  my  colleague  in  this  mission, 
the  Rev.  T.  L.  McBryde.  As  you  will  »have  learned  before  now, 
he  sailed  for  the  United  States,  early  in  the  month  preceding  its 
arrival.  He  left  with  me,  however,  a  discretionary  power  to  open 
his  letters,  and  suspecting  from  the  postmark  that  it  was  from 
your  society,  I  opened  and  read  it.  I  suppose  that  a  letter  from 
myself  in  reply,  will  be  nearly  equally  acceptable,  especially  as 
I  was  brought  up  almost  in  sight  of  your  Seminary,  and  have  spent 
more  than  half  of  my  life  within  thirty  miles  of  it. 

I  can  assure  you,  that  it  will  ever  afford  me  great  pleasure  to 
correspond  with  you.  I  have  been  a  theological  student  myself, 
and  know  the  interest  that  such  students  feel  in  letters  from  mis- 


LETTERS.  247 

sionaries  ;  and  I  can  speak  from  experience  too,  when  I  say  that 
a  missionary  is  glad  to  receive  letters  from  a  society  like  yours.  It 
was  interesting  to  me  to  read  your  accounts  of  the  revivals  of  re- 
ligion in  the  West,  for  it  recalled  the  memory  of  other  days,  when 
I  also  shared  in  such  precious  seasons.  Dear  brethren,  you  can- 
not too  highly  value,  nor  too  sedulously  improve,  the  opportunities 
you  now  have  of  intercourse  in  Christian  society, — of  laboring 
for  the  good  of  souls,  and  especially  of  being  present  where  the 
spirit  of  the  Lord  is  poured  out.  Should  you  ever  become  mission- 
aries to  the  heathen,  there  is  nothing  that,  in  the  review,  will  give 
you  more  real  delight  than  to  recall  such  times.  I  have  in  my 
native  land  mingled  in  various  scenes  ;  1  have  gone  to  the  literary 
feast,  the  crowded  assembly,  and  the  cheerful  social  circle,  and 
found  pleasure  in  all ;  but  I  now  recall,  with  far  more  satisfaction, 
the  solitary  walk  over  the  hills  with  a  single  Christian  brother, 
the  visit  to  the  poor  old  Christian  negro's  cottage,  the  little  prayer- 
meeting  in  the  house  where  the  lame  mother  in  Israel  joined  in 
the  song  of  praise,  and  the  country  Sabbath  school.  I  have  forgot- 
ten many  other  things,  but  I  have  not  forgotten  the  Brainerd  meet- 
ings of  Jefferson  College,  nor  the  time  when,  in  one  of  the  rooms 
in  your  seminary,  a  classmate  and  myself  bowed  the  knee  in  prayer 
to  our  common  Father.  Lay  up  a  store  of  such  things  for  recollec- 
tion, and  they  will  cheer  many  a  lonely  hour  in  your  future  course. 
Your  letter  asks  several  questions,  which  I  will  answer,  and 
also,  if  you  permit,  will  add  some  other  items.  You  ask  what 
special  preparation  is  necessary  for  the  field  of  labor  ?  I  think, 
principally  those  of  a  spiritual  nature.  I  mean,  strong  faith 
to  believe  God's  promises  that  the  world  shall  be  converted,  for 
you  will  find  little  in  the  outward  aspect  of  things  to  make 
you  think  so ;  patience  and  perseverance,  for  both  are  needed. 
You  may  have  to  labor  here  for  many  years,  and  see  little  appar- 
ent fruit  to  your  labor.  Above  all,  put  on  charity,  which  is  the 
bond  of  perfectness.  Cultivate  the  spirit  of  love  and  forbearance, 
for  you  will  find  abundant  occasion  for  its  exercise.  I  trust  you 
have  none  of  those  romantic  notions  that  will  induce  you  to  think 
a  missionary  a  superior  being.  We  are  men  of  like  passions 
with  others.  We  come  from  different  parts  of  the  world  with  differ- 
ent views,  from  the  influences  of  very  different  states  of  public 
feeling.  We  come  to  a  country  where  there  is  no  public  feeling, 
where  each  man  must  judge  for  himself,  where  there  is  no  stand- 
ard of  public  opinion  such  as  you  have  at  home.  In  such  circum- 
stances, it  is  natural  to  expect  great  diversity  of  views,  and  noth- 
ing but  the  spirit  of  meekness,  and  forbearance,  and  love  will 
enable  you  to  live  happily  with  your  fellow-laborers.  The  longer 
I  live,  the  more  I  am  struck  with  the  expressiveness  of  those  reit- 
ated  commands  of  our  Saviour  in  his  last  address  to  his  disciples, 
to  love  one  another.  Brethren,  study  and  practise  the  thirteenth 
chapter  of  first  Corinthians,  and  it  will  do  you  good  wherever 
you  are. 


248  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

As  to  other  preparations,  the  more  you  know  on  all  subjects, 
provided  you  know  it  well,  the  better.  There  is  hardly  an  item 
of  general  knowledge  of  any  kind  that  I  ever  acquired,  which  I 
have  not  already  found  occasion  to  bring  into  use.  On  subjects 
of  general  knowledge,  it  is  important,  if  you  come  to  this  field,  to 
know  pretty  well  the  histories  of  England,  France,  and  India.  I 
take  for  granted  that  you  know  the  history  of  our  own  coun- 
try thoroughly,  and  can  tell  why  the  American  flag  has  thirteen 
stripes,  and  twenty-six  stars.  Study  Geology  and  Botany  by  all 
means.  These  two  sciences  are  of  prime  importance,  and  you 
will  almost  daily  find  the  benefit  of  an  acquaintance  with  them. 
I  do  not  think  a  knowledge  of  medicine  necessary  to  a  missionary 
to  China.  If  you  have  an  opportunity  of  learning  something 
about  it,  very  well;  but  you  will  not.  I  think,  find  it  advantageous 
to  unite  an  extensive  medical  practice  with  the  preaching  of  the 
Gospel.  The  two  should  go  together,  but  it  seems  better  that 
they  should  be  performed  by  different  persons. 

I  t  hink  the  climate  of  the  ports  of  Ningpo  and  Shanghae  will  be 
found  most  suitable  for  persons  from  the  United  States.  Persons 
disposed  to  bilious  complaints  and  dyspeptics  will  suffer  a  good 
deal  in  the  Canton  and  Fuhkeen  provinces.  I  think  a  confirmed 
dyspeptic  might  almost  as  well  not  come  here.  Persons  liable  to 
consumption  would  find  the  Canton  and  Fuhkeen  provinces  de- 
lightful residences,  and  I  think  that  even  those  of  bilious  habits 
would  be  nearly  as  safe  in  Ningpo  and  Chusan,  as  in  the  United 
States.  They  have  ice  and  snow  there  in  winter.  The  Chinese 
language  is  very  difficult,  and  I  am  disposed  to  say.  that  one  who 
cannot  make  some  tolerable  progress  in  Latin,  Greek,  or  Hebrew, 
may  as  well  not  come  here.  The  language  is  the  difficulty  in 
China.  I  do  not  think  it  unattainable.  I  think  its  difficulties 
have  been  exaggerated.  I  think  that  every  year  its  acquisition  will 
be  found  easier,  because  more  facilities  in  the  way  of  elementary 
books,  and  access  to  the  people,  are  being  afforded.  In  other  re- 
spects, I  do  not  consider  the  field  as  "  peculiarly  arduous."  On  the 
contrary,  it  is  a  peculiarly  inviting  one.  I  came  here  almost  un- 
willingly, for  I  wanted  to  go  to  Africa,  but  what  I  have  seen  has 
made  me  glad  I  came  ;  and  if  I  know  rny  own  heart,  its  desire  is  to 
live  and  die  among  this  people.  One  thing  is  very  certain,  mis- 
sionaries who  come  to  this  people  will  find  them  in  general  poor 
and  ignorant.  Here,  emphatically,  "to  the  poor  the  gospel  will  be 
preached."  You  must  therefore  make  up  your  minds  to  become 
teachers  of  babes  when  you  come  to  {his  people.  There  are,  I 
admit,  many  exceptions,  and  you  will  often  meet  men  of  consider- 
able learning  and  tact,  but  the  mass  of  the  people  are  as  above 
described.  Your  own  experience  has  probably  already  taught  you, 
that  it  is  more  difficult  for  an  educated  man  to  come  down  and 
instruct  the  ignorant,  than  it  is  to  instruct  those  who  already  know 
something.  This  suggestion,  therefore,  may  assist  you  somewhat 
in  judging  of  the  qualities  a  missionary  needs,  in  instructing  thia 


LETTERS.  249 

people  :  they  are  patience,  a  facility  in  finding  comparisons,  a  tal- 
ent for  simplifying,  an  engaging  address,  <fcc.  &c. 

....  There  are  many  items  of  intelligence  I  might  communi- 
cate to  you;  but  you  will  see  in  the  pages  of  the  Chronicle  and 
Foreign  Missionary,  much  more  than  I  can  possibly  write  at  this 
time,  and  therefore  I  shall  refer  you  to  them.  1  do  so  the  more 
readily,  because  I  have  nothing  of  especial  interest  to  communi- 
cate to  you,  except  what  this  letter  contains,  which  will  not  appear 
in  one  or  other  of  those  publications.  My  own  progress  in  the 
language  has  been  but  small.  Nearly  one-half  of  the  time,  since 
my  arrival  in  China,  has  been  spent  in  voyages,  and  other  engage- 
ments connected  with  the  mission  ;  so  that  altogether  I  have  given 
but  eight  or  nine  months'  close  attention  to  it.  Still  I  am  encour- 
aged, and  hope  ere  long  to  have  a  tolerably  good  acquaintance 
with  it. 

Allow  me,  in  conclusion,  to  make  some  remarks  on  your  own 
duty  in  reference  to  the  heathen,  and  these  I  trust  you  will  receive 
not  as  coming  from  a  superior,  but  from  one  himself  recently  a 
theological  student,  and  still  remembering  the  feelings  of  such. 
Your  letter  speaks  with  just  severity  of  the  inconsistency  of  those 
who  passed  resolutions  to  do  something  special  for  the  cause  of 
foreign  missions,  and  yet  made  no  special  efforts  to  accomplish 
their  resolution.  You  speak  too  of  the  apathy  of  the  churches 
on  this  subject,  and,  as  I  think,  partly  lay  the  blame  at  the  door 
of  the  pastors  of  the  churches.  I  am  convinced  from  what  I  have 
seen,  and  1  saw  a  good  deal  before  leaving  the  United  States,  that 
the  fault  is  with  the  ministry.  "  Like  priest,  like  people,"  is  an 
ancient  and  true  proverb.  But  I  do  not  mean  to  blame  the  minis- 
try in  general,  nor  to  pass  an  indiscriminate  censure  even  on  those 
of  them  who  have  done  little  or  nothing.  My  object  rather  is  to 
forget  the  things  that  are  behind,  and  to  press  forward  to  those 
that  are  before.  Hence  it  has  ever  appeared  exceedingly  impor- 
tant, that  the  students  in  our  theological  seminaries  should  have 
the  right  spirit  in  the  matter.  Could  I  but  see  the  right  spirit 
prevailing  in  our  theological  seminaries,  I  am  almost  certain  that 
in  ten  years  our  whole  church  would  assqme  an  entirely  different 
appearance,  as  it  regards  the  cause  of  foreign  and  domestic  mis- 
sions. Why?  Because  in  that  time  I  suppose  our  seminaries 
would  have  supplied  five  hundred  pastors  of  churches  at  least,  and 
they  would  be  settled  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  Suppose  now 
that  those  five  hundred  pastors  had  the  right  spirit,  and  joined 
their  influence  heartily  with  the  ministers  already  earnestly  en- 
gaged, and  what  would  be  the  effect?  Their  influence  would  be 
felt  in  all  our  Presbyteries  and  Synods.  When  the  Assembly 
passed  resolutions,  there  would  be  men  enough  to  respond  to  them. 
We  should  no  more  hear  that  more  than  half  our  churches  gave 
nothing  at  all  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  The  whole  appearance  of 
things  would  be  entirely  altered.  Now,  brethren,  you  form  a  part 
of  those  five  hundred  ministers.  The  most  of  you,  I  suppose,  will 


250  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

become  pastors  in  different  parts  of  the  country.  What  is  your 
spirit  now  in  regard  to  the  benevolent  operations  of  the  day  ? 
What  do  you  intend  to  do  when  you  are  settled  over  your  several 
charges  ?  Shall  the  theological  students  of  1853  make  the  same 
complaints  of  you,  that  you  make  of  your  predecessors? 

I  have  no  doubt  that  many  of  you,  I  trust  all  of  you,  intend  to 
do  something  at  least  for  foreign  missions.  Your  own  personal 
duty  as  to  becoming  missionaries,  is  a  subject  I  shall  not  now 
touch  upon.  I  wish  to  refer  to  the  influence  on  behalf  of  foreign 
missions,  which  you  may  exert  on  the  people.  Your  intentions 
are  doubtless  good,  but  what  preparations  are  you  now  making  ? 
What  do  you  know  of  missions?  Do  you  think  you  will  be  able 
to  keep  up  the  interest  of  your  people  in  the  Monthly  Concert? 
Do  you  think  you  will  be  able  to  teach  them  the  true  principles 
of  missions  ;  not  romantic  views,  but  sober,  common-sense,  Chris- 
tian principles?  Do  you  think  you  will  be  able  to  sustain  the  in- 
terest of  your  people  from  year  to  year,  and  not  merely  to  sustain 
it,  but  to  cause  it  to  grow;  to  take  deeper  root;  to  become  more 
and  more  a  matter  of  principle,  and  less  and  less  one  of  mere  im- 
pulse? Do  you  think  you  will  be  able  to  do  without  the  visits  of 
agents?  I  trust  you  will  pardon  me  if  I  say,  I  fear  that  some  of 
you  cannot  answer  these  questions  in  the  affirmative.  1  do  not 
know  any  of  you  personally,  and  therefore  you  will  not  of  course 
consider  my  remarks  as  personal ;  I  only  speak  from  my  knowl- 
edge of  theological  students  in  general,  and  that  has  been  pretty 
extensive,  and  sufficiently  accurate  to  justify  me  in  making  the 
above  remarks.  It  is  no  easy  thing  to  bring  the  church  up  to  the 
mark,  and  to  keep  her  there,  and  you  will  find  this  very  soon  after 
you  are  settled  in  the  ministry.  You  will  find  that  without  a  tol- 
erably thorough  and  extensive  acquaintance  with  the  history  and 
principles  of  missions,  you  cannot  do  it. 

Do  you  ask  me,  then,  what  you  are  to  do?  I  say,  first  learn. 
Now  is  your  time,  while  you  are  in  the  seminary.  Lay  a  deep 
and  broad  foundation  of  missionary  knowledge  ;  study  the  prophe- 
cies of  the  Bible  in  reference  to  this  point,  and  study  them  specially. 
See  what  prophecies  relate  to  Africa.  What  to  the  Jews.  Whether 
there  are  any  for  China.  Learn  the  history  of  the  progress  of  .the 
gospel  in  all  ages  and  countries,  but  particularly  within  the  last 
fifty  years.  Study  the  history  of  particular  missions ;  I  take  it  for 
granted  you  will  study  the  history  of  our  own  board  and  its  mis- 
sions, but  I  hope  you  will  not  confine  yourself  to  them.  God  has 
blessed  other  societies,  both  in  America  and  England,  abundantly  ; 
and  now,  when  the  means  of  information  are  so  accessible,  why 
should  you  not  avail  yourselves  of  them  ?  Study  the  Bible  with 
reference  to  this  point.  Why  is  it  that  some  men  at  Monthly  Con- 
certs read  only  the  seventy-second  Psalm,  and  the  sixtieth  chapter 
of  Isaiah  ?  They  really  seem  to  think  that  there  are  no  other  parts 
of  the  Bible  that  speak  of  missions.  Having  learned  these  things — • 
and  you  see  from  this  hasty  eutline  that  there  is  not  a  little  to  be 


LETTERS.  251 

learned,  and  that  you  can  best  commence  learning  it  while  in  the 
seminary — the  next  thing  will  be  to  teach.  This  will  be  your  duty 
in  the  public  services  of  the  sanctuary,  in  the  Monthly  Concert,  in 
friendly  visits  among  your  people,  and,  above  all,  in  the  Sabbath- 
school.  Let  it  be  a  special  object  with  you  to  interest  the  young, 
and  you  will  certainly  succeed.  But  I  have  written  till  my  hdnd 
is  wearied,  and  perhaps  have  wearied  your  patience.  What  I 
have  written,  however,  though  hastily  penned,  has  not  been  has- 
tily gathered.  I  trust  it  will  not  be  hastily  passed  over  by  you. 
I  shall  be  most  happy  to  hear  from  you  as  soon  as  you  wish  to 
write,  and  shall  prefer  that  you  ask  me  questions,  which  I  shall 
answer  as  I  can.  I  have  some  questions  to  ask  you  in  return,  to 
which  I  shall  be  glad  to  receive  answers.  What  is  the  order  and 
nature  of  your  exercises  in  the  Society  of  Inquiry  and  the  Monthly 
Conceit?  Do  your  students  make  it  a  point  of  conscience  to  in- 
quire into  their  own  personal  duty  to  the  heathen?  And  is  this 
done  in  the  early  part  of  your  theological  course  ?  Do  your  stu- 
dents generally  read  the  missionary  publications,  particularly  the 
Chronicle  and  Herald?  I  don't  mean,  do  you  take  them?  for  I 
have  known  many  students  to  take,  who  scarcely  ever  read  them. 
Is  your  Monthly  Conceit  well  attended  ?  Do  you  have  any  mis- 
sionary exercises  in  your  Sabbath-schools  ?  And  if  so,  what  and 
how  frequently  ?  Have  any  of  your  students  ever  written  one  or 
more  missionary  sermons  before  leaving  the  seminary? 

If  you  publish  a  catalogue,  I  shall  be  glad  to  receive  a  copy. 
And  now,  dear  brethren,  I  must  close.  I  make  no  apology  for  the 
plainness  of  my  remarks  and  questions,  and  trust  you  will  receive 
them  in  the  same  frank  arid  Christian  spirit  with  which  they  are 
made.  Pray  for  me.  That  the  choicest  blessings  of  God  may 
ever  rest  upon  you,  is  the  prayer  of 

Your  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 

P.  S.  You  will  readily  see  from  the  character  of  this  letter,  that 
it  is  not  designed  for  publication,  and  I  wish,  therefore,  that  you 
will  not  allow  it  to  appear  in  the  newsoapers.  W.  M.  L. 


Macao,  November  6th,  1843. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

....  You  make  an  incidental  remark  in  your  letter  about 
"one-sided  impressions,"  produced  by  missionaries  in  their  address- 
es and  letters.  I  think  it  a  very  important  one.  It  is  a  thing 
that  has  often  occurred  to  me,  since  I  came  out,  that  missionaries, 
without  intending  it,  have  at  times  produced  an  impression  deci- 
dedly erroneous,  by  their  statements.  For  instance,  there  is  noth- 
ing in  which  it  is  easier  to  err,  than  in  speaking  of  the  eagerness  of 
the  people  to  receive  tracts.  I  remember  not  long  ago,  a  China- 
man saw  me  with  a  tract  in  my  hand  and  begged  me  to  give  it  to 


252  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

him.  I  made  him  read  a  little,  and  finding  he  could  read,  gave  it 
to  him.  He  was  apparently  very  grateful,  and  asked  me  to  come 
to  his  hut.  I  could  not  speak  a  word  of  his  dialect,  but  he  found 
I  knew  something  of  the  characters,  and  the  first  thing  he  did 
when  1  sat  down  was  to  ask  me  in  writing  to  sell  him  some 
opium  !  I  shall  endeavor  to  avoid  giving  such  impressions  in  my 
communications.  I  see  no  occasion  to  make  remarks  merely  for 
effect,  for  the  truth,  simple  and  unadorned,  respecting  China,  is 
amply  sufficient,  if  properly  presented,  to  rouse  the  people  and  the 
churches. 

I  was  greatly  delighted  to  hear  of  the  large  donation  you  have 
received  for  China.  I  rejoice  and  take  courage  when  I  see  God 
raising  up  such  friends,  just  at  the  time  when  they  are  most 
needed.  We  have  had  many  difficulties  and  discouragements  in 
this  Mission,  and  may  have  many  yet,  but  I  feel  almost  assured 
there  is  a  great  work  for  us  to  do,  and  that  we  shall  by  God's 
blessing  do  it.  I  often  think  that  I  shall  not  be  permitted  to 
labor  much  directly  myself,  and  were  I  to  be  told  now,  that  I 
should  hardly  live  to  see  our  mission  assume  a  settled  aspect,  it 
would  not  surprise  me.  But  these  are  thoughts  which,  though 
they  often  occur,  I  do  not  allow  to  hinder  me  in  preparations  for 
direct  labor.  My  business  is  not  to  trouble  myself  about  the 
future,  but  to  do  with  my  might  what  my  hands  find  to  do,  and 
at  present  that  is  about  as  much  as  I  can  do.  I  do  not  know  that  I 
have  ever  been  happier  than  I  am  at  present.  I  used  to  be  much 
subject  to  melancholy  and  lowness  of  spirits,  but  am  not  much  so 
now.  I  am  often  perplexed,  but  not  in  despair;  sometimes 
troubled  on  every  side,  and  yet  not  distressed.  It  seems  to  me, 
that  it  would  now  cause  me  real  anguish  to  be  obliged  to  return 
to  the  United  States.  Yet  alas,  how  soon  may  the  deceitfulness 
of  my  own  heart  cause  me  to  speak  in  quite  a  different  strain.  .  . 

Your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  December  15th,  1843. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

•  •  •  It  has  become  so  cold  within  a  day  or  two  past  that  I  have 
to  think  of  old  times.  .  .  .  My  teacher  comes  in  with  half  a  dozen 
jackets  on,  and  draws  his  hands  into  the  long-lined  sleeves  of  the 
third  of  them,  sitting  as  snug  and  cosy,  as  if  he  had  a  little  fire- 
place under  his  elbows.  By  the  way,  it  is  extremely  common  for 
Chinese  of  any  wealth  to  carry  a  small  metal  vessel,  as  large  as  a 
man's  fist,  with  live  coals  in  it.  It  is  used  to  warm  their  fingers 
with,  and  when  covered  up  in  the  long  sleeve  must  diffuse  a  very 
grateful  warmth  up  the  arm.  Frost  and  snow  are  so  seldom  met 
with  here,  that  neither  the  Chinese  nor  the  Portuguese  ever  build 
fireplaces  in  their  houses.  If  necessary  they  use  a  brazier  with 
charcoal,  but  commonly  adopt  the  expedient  of  heaping  on  addi- 


LETTERS.  253 

tional  clothes.  Did  I  ever  describe  to  you  the  winter  dress  of  the 
generality  of  the  Chinese  about  here?  You  would  laugh  if  you 
saw  them.  1  do  not  know  what  they  have  next  to  the  skin,  but 
from  the  waist  to  the  ankle  the  outside  dress  is  a  pair  of  very 
closely  fitting  drawers,  which  show  exactly  the  form  of  the  whole 
of  the  lower  extremities.  Then  the  upper  part  of  the  body  is 
covered  with  the  loose  jacket,  of  which  they  wear  as  many  as  the 
weather  requires,  or  their  means  permit.  Their  appearance  is 
consequently  next  thing  to  ridiculous.  The  whole  of  the  upper 
part  of  the  body  looks  like  a  barrel  with  a  head  on  the  top  of  it, 
while  the  legs  stick  out  beneath  like  a  pair  of  compasses.  What 
adds  to  the  effect  of  the  whole,  is,  that  the  drawers  are  of  various 
colors,  blue,  green,  yellow,  black  and  white.  Many  a  time  I  have 
laughed  at  the  comical  appearance  of  a  young  dandy,  who  thought 
he  was  making  a  grand  display  in  his  new  clothes  and  well-turned 
limbs.  I  should  like  to  see  one  of  them  in  Broadway,  with  his 
thick-soled  shoes  and  green  tights,  his  wadded  vests,  and  round 
cap  and  long  tail  behind.  Yet,  after  all,  I  am  a  great  admirer  of 
the  Chinese  modes  of  dress.  Their  drawers,  and  the  thick-soled 
shoes,  and  the  tails  are  the  worst  parts ;  but  the  better  classes  do  not 
wear  the  drawers,  or  at  least  they  wear  another  garment  over 

them It  would  amuse  you  to  see  how  universal  the  use  of 

the  fan  is.  I  have  seen  a  coolie  or  common  laborer  sweating 
along  the  streets  under  a  heavy  burden,  and  fanning  himself  all 
the  time.  It  is  funny  to  see  some  of  the  mechanics,  and  others  a 
grade  or  two  above  the  coolies,  fanning  themselves  in  summer. 
Their  dress  then  consists  of  a  pair  of  very  loose  trowsers  fastened 
round  the  waist  by  a  string,  and  an  upper  garment  reaching  a 
little  lower  than  the  top  of  the  trowsers,  and  hanging  loose  over 
them.  You  will  see  them  every  now  and  then  putting  their  hands 
behind  them,  and  fanning  up  their  backs,  under  this  jacket. 

My  teacher  is  quite  intelligent  for  a  Chinese,  though  he  knows 
almost  nothing  of  anything  beyond  China.  He  thinks  it  very 
strange  that  we  say  North,  East,  South  and  West,  for  the  Chinese 
say  East,  West,  South  and  North.  It  is  also  very  strange  to  him 
that  we  say  North-East,  South-East,  &c.,  for  the  Chinese  say 
East-North,  East-South,  West-North,  &c.  I  was  amused  at  a 
talk  we  had  yesterday  about  the  Chinese  queue,  or  tail,  as  we 
commonly  call  it.  He  said  that  formerly  it  was  not  worn,  but  that 
the  present  fashion  of  showing  all  the  front  of  the  head  and  leav- 
ing it  to  grow  long  and  braiding  it  behind,  was  introduced  about 
two  hundred  years  ago,  by  the  present  Tartar  dynasty.  .  . 

I  told  him  about  the  death  and  resurrection  of  Christ,  at  which 
he  seemed  much  surprised.  He  asked  if  Christ  was  not  a  man 
like  Confucius?  I  told  him  no,  but  the  Son  of  God.  As  his 
curiosity  seemed  to  be  somewhat  excited,  I  told  him  I  had  a 
biography  of  Christ  which  I  would  lend  him,  if  he  wished  to  read 
it.  He  said  he  would,  so  I  gave  him  a  New  Testament,  which  he 


254  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

took  away  with  him.     Oh  that  the  Spirit  of  God  may  make  it  a 
blessing  to  him.  .  . 

With  love  to  all  the  family,  I  remain, 
Yours  affectionately, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  November  20th,  1843. 

To  THE  SOCIETY  OP  IwauiRY  OF  PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL 

SEMINARY. 

DEAR  BRETHREN  : — It  is  now  rather  more  than  two  years 
since  I  finally  left  your  institution.  I  did  not  intend  that  so  long 
a  time  should  elapse  without  writing  to  you,  for  both  my  own  in- 
clinations, and  a  kind  request  from  your  corresponding  secretary, 
have  made  me  wish  to  hold,  a  correspondence  with  you.  Circum- 
stances, however,  over  which  I  have  had  little  control,  have  in- 
duced me  to  defer  writing  till  the  present  period.  You  may  be 
sure  it  has  not  been  for  want  of  interest  in  your  institution  that  I 
have  so  long  delayed.  On  the  contrary,  the  thoughts  of  hallowed 
seasons  in  the  old  oratory  where  you  meet,  have  been  among  the 
most  pleasant  of  the  many  pleasant  recollections  I  have  brought 
from  the  land  of  my  birth. 

I  do  not  mean  to  write  a  '  sentimental'  letter,  for  my  own  expe- 
rience in  the  Seminary  taught  me  that  such  letters  are  about  as 
dry  and  unprofitable  as  any  you  receive ;  yet  neither  do  I  mean 
to  write  a  letter  containing  statistics  and  stirring  facts.  The 
most,  if  not  the  whole,  of  what  I  could  at  present  write  in  that 
way,  has  been  recently  embodied  in  a  journal  which  I  presume 
will  be  published  in  the  Chronicle,  and  if  you  will  consider  the  in- 
formation there  contained  to  be  intended  for  yourselves  just  as 
much  as  if  I  had  written  it  to  you,  it  will  save  me  the  labor  and 
the  time  necessary  to  write  it  over  again,  neither  of  which  I  can 
very  well  spare  at  present.  A  word  or  two,  however,  about  my 
own  impressions  of  the  Chinese  language.  You  have  doubtless 
heard  marvellous  accounts  of  its  difficulty,  and  the  time  necessary 
to  gain  even  a  '  smattering'  in  it — ten,  fifteen,  twenty,  and  even 
twenty-five  years  have  I  heard  assigned  as  the  time  in  which  a 
person  may  hope  to  gain  some  little  acquaintance  with  it.  Now 
all  this  is  certainly  incorrect.  There  is  no  doubt  it  is  a  very  hard 
language.  If  any  of  you  come  here,  you  will  need  a  great  deal 
more  resolution  and  spirit  than  you  found  needed  for  Hebrew.  It 
is,  I  suppose,  the  hardest  language  in  the  world,  and  perhaps  no 
foreigner  will  ever  acquire  it  perfectly  ;  certainly  no  foreigner  ever 
has  acquired  it  perfectly.  But  I  have  seen  several  men  who  have 
been  here  much  less  than  ten  years  who  do  speak  it  with  great 
fluency,  and  are  quite  intelligible,  not  merely  to  the  teacher  who 
has  become  accustomed  to  their  pronunciation  and  modes  of  thought, 
but  to  the  people  in  general,  and  that  too  in  the  most  difficult  of 


LETTERS.  255 

all  the  dialects.  Nor  are  those  who  have  made  such  acquirements 
men  of  the  most  splendid  talents,  and  wonderful  facilities  in  learn- 
ing languages.  They  are  little,  if  anything,  superior  to  the  most 
of  those  who  become  missionaries.  It  is  also  a  most  important 
consideration  that  the  facilities  for  learning  the  language  are  now 
vastly  greater  than  they  have  ever  before  been,  so  that  at  the 
northern  ports  especially,  a  person  may  hope  to  learn  the  language 
in  two-thirds  of  the  time  that  was  formerly  requisite.  By  facilities 
I  mean,  books,  teachers,  and  especially  opportunities  of  access  to 
the  people.  I  do  not  wish  to  give  you  the  impression  that  it  is  a 
light  work  to  learn  it.  If  any  of  you  come  here  with  that  impres- 
sion you  will  be  sadly  disappointed.  But  if  you  come,  and  sit 
down  manfully  to  the  task,  determined  from  the  outset  to  be  satis- 
fied with  nothing  less  than  an  accurate  acquaintance  with  the 
tones,  and  with  the  sounds,  and  with  the  idioms,  you  will  find 
yourselves  in  two  years'  time  proceeding  with  profit  and  pleasure. 
By  that  time  you  will  have  gained  much  acquaintance  with  the 
character  of  the  people ;  you  will  be  astonished  at  the  vastness  of 
the  field  open  before  you,  and  you  will  thank  God  that  he  has  sent 
you  to  labor  for  this  great  and  ancient  race. 

If  you  come  here  as  missionaries,  you  must  expect  many  trials. 
They  will  come  upon  you  in  unthought-of  ways,  and  where  you 
looked  for  most  joy,  you  may  perhaps  find  most  sorrow.  I  am  led 
to  make  this  remark  for  two  reasons.  It  is  a  fact  that  Chinese 
missionaries  have  been  remarkably  tried,  some  by  sickness,  some 
by  loss  of  relatives,  some  by  personal  inconveniences  and  disap- 
pointments. There  are  some  twenty  or  more  missionaries  to 
China,  not  including  females  ;  of  these  twenty,  there  are  scarcely 
three  who  have  not  met  some  sore  trial  within  the  last  fifteen 
months.  I  do  not  know  whether  missionaries  to  other  countries 
have  been  so  generally  afflicted  ;  but  very  many  of  them  have, 
and  you  may  be  called  to  experience  the  same.  There  is  also 
another  reason  that  induces  me  think  that  missionaries  to  China 
must  expect  trials.  We  have  a  very  great  work  to  perform.  If 
China  contain,  as  it  probably  does,  one-third  of  the  population  of 
the  globe,  and  if  this  people  is  to  be  converted  to  God,  then  no 
words  of  mine  are  needed,  as  no  human  words  are  able  to  express 
the  greatness  of  the  work  before  us.  But  when  was  it  ever  known 
that  any  great  work  was  accomplished  without  labor  and  toil,  self- 
denial,  sacrifice,  and  oftentimes  the  acutest  mental  anguish  ?  Has 
not  every  great  work  that  ever  has  been  performed  for  God  in  the 
world  been  watered  by  the  sweat,  and  the  tears,  and  the  blood  of 
his  servants  ?  And  can  we  expect  that  the  conversion  of  the  most 
populous  nation  of  the  globe  shall  be  accomplished  with  ordinary 
efforts  and  ordinary  sorrows  ?  General  experience  is  against  it. 
The  experience  of  missionaries  to  China  is  against  it.  And  the 
example  of  God  our  Son,  who.  to  accomplish  the  world's  redemp- 
tion, became  "  sorrowful  even  unto  death,"  should  teach  us,  who 
are  to  be  "  partakers  of  his  sufferings,"  not  to  expect  it.  We  need 


256  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

to  be  humbled  in  the  dust  before  we  can  be  (rusted  witn  success, 
where  success  is  to  be  so  glorious.  We  need  to  be  purified  in  the 
furnace  before  we  can  labor  with  acceptance,  where  our  acceptable 
labors  are  to  redound  so  much  to  the  glory  of  God  ;  yet  do  not  think 
that  these  trials  will  make  you  unhappy.  For  a  time  they  \\ill 
be  hard  to  bear ;  but  "  He  giveth  more  grace."  And  great  as  have 
been  the  trials  of  the  missionaries  here,  I  have  seldom  associated 
with  persons  who  seemed  so  truly  happy  as  do  most  of  my  fellow- 
laborers  in  China.  These  trials  are  necessary  for  us  here,  and  it 
was  well  remarked  to  me  by  one  who  was  herself  called  to  bt-ar 
the  yoke,  "Trials  are  one  of  our  most  precious  means  of  grace." 

We  missionaries,  as  a  matter  of  Qourse,  feel  much  interest  in 
the  accounts  of  matters  and  things  in  general  that  reach  us  in 
the  papers  from  home.  It  is  true,  that  when  twenty  papers 
come  at  once,  as  they  often  do,  it  is  not  possible  to  give  each  one 
a  full  and  careful  perusal ;  yet  somehow  or  other  we  manage  to 
see  a  good  deal  of  what  is  in  them,  and  as  you  may  suppose,  our 
minds  are  variously  affected  by  what  we  read.  Will  you  allow 
me  to  give  you  some  thoughts  that  have  occurred  to  me  occasion- 
ally, on  reading  some  of  the  newspaper  articles  I  have  seen? 
They  have  appeared  in  respectable  papers,  but  I  attach  import- 
ance to  them,  principally,  because  they  appear  to  be  indices  of  the 
state  of  feeling  in  the  religious  community  on  those  subjects.  I 
observe  by  several  of  the  papers  that  there  has  been  a  good  deal 
of  discussion  on  the  question  whether  missionaries  to  the  heathen 
should  be  married.  This  is  certainly  a  most  important  subject ; 
and  as  very  erroneous  views  are  very  extensively  held  in  regard 
to  it,  I  am  not  sorry  to  see  it  discussed.  The  only  thing  is,  let  it 
be  discussed  on  right  principles,  and  when  the  truth  is  discovered 
let  it  be  reduced  to  practice.  If  I  may  judge  from  what  I  have 
seen  in  the  papers,  the  impression  is  gaining  ground,  that  mission- 
aries should  be  unmarried  men  :  and  some  of  the  principal  reasons 
adduced  for  this  opinion  are,  that  it  will  cost  much  less  to  sustain 
them  ;  they  will  be  much  more  free  to  move  about  and  embrace 
favorable  opportunities  of  doing  good  ;  they  will  be  less  likely  to 
go  home  ;  and  after  all,  the  wives  of  missionaries  do  not  do  so 
very  much,  in  the  way  of  direct  labor,  and  would  not  be  very 
much  missed.  Those  who  are  in  favor  of  the  marriage  of  mis- 
sionaries insist  very  much  on  the  direct  usefulness  of  the  wives  of 
missionaries,  and  there  are  many  who  seem  to  think  this  is  the 
chief  reason  for  sending  them.  Now,  with  all  due  deference  to 
the  advocates  01  both  sides,  it  strikes  me  that  these  arguments 
place  the  subject  on  the  wrong  ground,  and  present  it  in  a  false 
light. 

Missionaries  are  men  of  like  passions  with  others,  and  in  the 
present  day,  when  miraculous  influences  have  ceased,  I  know  not 
why  they  should  be  judged  of  in  a  different  way  from  other  men; 
or  why  the  broad  principles  of  the  Bible  are  not  as  applicable  to 
them  as  to  other  men.  Now  one  of  the  first  principles  of  the 


LETTERS.  257 

Bible  on  this  subject  is,  "  It  is  not  good  that  the  man  should  be 
alone."  This  principle,  I  conceive,  was  recognized  by  our  Sav- 
iour when  the  disciples  said,  "  It  is  not  good  to  marry."  He  who 
knew  what  was  in  man,  said,  "All  men  cannot  receive  this  say- 
ing— he  that  is  able  to  receive  it,  let  him  receive  it."  This  is  the 
rule  by  which  this  question  must  be  decided.  It  is  not  good  for 
the  great  majority  of  men  to  be  alone  ;  first,  because,  if  alone  they 
are  exposed  to  temptations,  which  sad  experience  proves  that  most 
men  cannot  withstand ;  secondly,  because,  though  they  may  by 
grace  withstand  the  temptations  to  actual  sin,  yet  they  are  not 
contented ;  and  they  want  those  solaces  of  affection  which  the 
human  heart  craves,  and  those  counsels  of  intimate  friendship 
that  are  so  grateful  to  him  that  is  separated  from  the  influences 
of  Christian  society.  If,  then,  you  can  live  sinlessly  in  the  unmar- 
ried state  ;  if  you  can  be  contented  ;  if  you  can  be  satisfied  with- 
out the  kindly  influences  of  female  society ;  then  I  say,  it  is  prob- 
ably your  duty  to  be  an  unmarried  missionary,  but  not  otherwise. 

The  expense  is  not  the  question  ;  and  as  long  as  the  Church  is 
so  abundantly  able  to  bear  it  as  she  now  is,  it  is  a  shame  to  men- 
tion such  a  consideration,  or  to  ask,  why  does  not  the  missionary 
live  as  the  whalers  and  fur  hunters  do? 

There  is  force  in  the  consideration,  that  an  unmarried  mission- 
ary is  more  free  to  move  about,  and  at  times  to  occupy  stations 
where  married  men  cannot  easily  go,  and  the  consideration  should 
have  its  owrn  weight  with  those  who  think  of  this  subject.  But 
there  is  equal  force  in  the  consideration,  that  permanent  good,  and 
visible  effects  have  most  commonly  followed  where  the  married 
missionary  has  settled,  and  by  his  settlement  concentrated  his 
efforts.  The  direct  usefulness  of  the  missionary's  wife,  is  by  no 
means  the  main  point  in  deciding  this  question.  Her  first  duty 
in  all  cases  is  to  attend  to  her  husband  and  children  ;  and  if  she 
have  time  and  strength  for  more  than  this,  then  that  is  all  clear 
gain.  Let  her  preserve  her  husband  from  those  temptations  to 
which  unmarried  men  are  exposed ;  let  her  soothe  him  in  his 
hours  of  despondency ;  let  her  relieve  him  from  the  household 
cares  that  must  interrupt  him  if  unmarried ;  let  her  soften  the 
disposition  that  without  her  influence  would  become  rough  and 
rude ;  (for  as  Bacon  says,  "  Certainly  wife  and  children  are  a 
kind  of  discipline  of  humanity  ;")  let  her  show  by  her  silent  ex- 
ample what  a  Christian  wife  and  mother  is,  and  how  she  should 
be  treated  ;  and  if  she  never  learns  a  syllable  of  the  native  lan- 
guage, or  teaches  a  single  heathen  child  a  letter,  she  has  accom- 
plished a  work  worth  ten  times  more  than  the  expense  of  her 
outfit  and  support.  These  observations  may  excite  a  smile,  but 
they  are  not  written  in  levity.  They  may  appear  strange,  and 
half-romantic,  but  only  to  those  who  have  romantic  views  of  mis- 
sions. Much  thought  and  the  acquaintance  of  several  mission- 
aries, convince  me  that  they  are  the  words  of  truth  and  soberness. 
A.S  to  the  question  whether  it  is  the  wife  who  causes  the  return  of 

17 


MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

the  missionary,  although  the  general  opinion  seems  to  be  that  it 
is,  yet  I  have  my  doubts.  Certainly  the  experience  of  the  Pres 
byterian  board  does  not  say  so  ;  for  of  all  their  missionaries  who 
have  returned  on  account  of  ill  health,  Mr.  Rogers  of  North 
India,  is  the  only  one  who  has  yet  been  taken  back  by  his  wife's 
ill  health  ;  in  every  other  case  it  is  the  husband's  ill  health  that 
has  taken  the  wife  back.  The  experience  of  the  American  board 
seems  to  be  different ;  but  I  should  be  glad  to  see  a  fuller  array 
of  facts,  than  the  celebrated  paper  of  Dr.  Anderson  presents.  It 
does  not  strike  me  that  the  whole  of  the  facts,  in  regard  to  the 
return  of  all  who  do  return,  is  there  presented.  If  I  remember 
rightly,  that  paper  speaks  of  the  return  of  so  many  married  mis- 
sionaries, but  does  not  say  anything  about  the  return  of  unmar- 
ried missionaries.  But  even  admitting  that  it  has  been  the  case 
in  the  experience  of  that  board,  that  the  wife  has  taken  the  hus- 
band home,  where  does  the  fault  lie? 

It  is  to  this  point  I  would  direct  your  special  attention  ;  for  most 
of  you  will  become  pastors  at  home,  and  the  impression  is  very 
strong  upon  my  mind,  that  it  has  been  the  fault  of  the  pastors  at 
home  that  so  many  unqualified  missionary's  wives  have  gone 
abroad,  and  finding,  after  they  got  abroad,  that  they  were  unqual- 
ified, have  been  obliged  to  return.  I  know  something  of  the  way 
in  which  this  happens.  A  young  woman,  for  some  reason  or 
other,  becomes  desirous  of  going  as  a  missionary,  and  very  natu- 
rally consults  with  her  pastor.  He  is  glad  to  find  a  member  of 
his  church  so  disposed,  for  he  hopes  she  will  do  good  abroad,  and 
will  excite  an  interest  among  his  own  people;  and  possibly  the 
thought  occurs  to  him,  especially  if  two  or  three  of  his  flock  should 
become  missionaries  or  missionaries'  wives,  "  What  a  number  of 
my  people  are  becoming  missionaries  !"  Now  it  is  just  as  possible 
as  not,  that  this  pastor's  views  of  the  qualifications  of  a  mission- 
ary's wife  are  not  very  high ;  and  it  is  quite  probable,  (I  know  it 
to  be  a  fact  in  some  cases,)  that  he  does  not  carefully  inquire 
whether  her  talents,  acquirements,  and  bodily  health,  fit  her  for 
the  work  ;  but  at  once  he  encourages  her  to  proceed.  He  regards 
her  as  a  candidate,  and  recommends  her  to  some  young  man, 
who  is  reckless  enough,  (I  say  reckless,  for  that  is  the  word.)  to 
risk  his  happiness  and  usefulness  for  life  on  a  three  days'  acquaint- 
ance. They  are  married,  go  abroad,  and  come  back  again.  I 
know  a  case  in  which  a  young  woman,  who  could  scarcely  write 
her  own  name,  and  had  only  the  commonest  rudiments  of  an 
English  education,  was  recommended  by  an  Old-School  Presby- 
terian pastor  for  an  assistant  missionary ;  and  that  pastor  was 
almost  offended  with  a  discreet  missionary's  wife,  who  told  him 
he  ought  not  to  encourage  such  a  person  to  become  a  missionary. 
In  all  cases  of  this  kind,  certainly  the  pastors  are  to  be  blamed, 
and  I  trust  that  none  of  you  will  ever  encourage  such  procedures. 
Do  not  think  that  I  wish  to  shield  missionaries  from  blame,  when 
they  deserve  it,  or  that  I  do  not  think  they  often  do  deserve  it. 


LETTERS.  259 

I  am  too  deeply  conscious  of  my  own  defects,  and  too  often  pained 
by  what  I  see,  not  to  admit  that  in  many  things  we  offend,  and* 
in  all  we  come  short ;  but  still,  let  justice  be  done  to  all,  and  espe- 
cially let  those  with  whom,  after  all,  rests  the  responsibility  of 
carrying  on  the  cause  of  foreign  missions — I  mean  the  pastors  of 
the  church  at  home — see  to  it  that  they  perform  their  part  of  the 
matter  aright. 

The  previous  remarks  have  become  so  much  longer  than  I  ex- 
pected, that  I  must  hasten  over  the  other  items  which  I  wished  to 
notice.  I  have  been  exceedingly  pained  by  some  articles  I  have 
seen  lately  in  the  papers,  in  reference  to  the  claims  of  the  domes- 
tic and  foreign  fields.  The  spirit  of  the  articles  referred  to  has  not 
been  of  the  right  kind.  I  have  no  doubt  their  authors  meant 
well ;  but  it  appears  to  me  to  be  an  exceedingly  erroneous  course, 
to  attempt  to  set  the  claims  of  foreign  and  domestic  missions  in 
array  and  in  opposition  against  each  other,  or  to  say  that  too 
much  attention  has  been  given  to  the  one,  to  the  neglect  of  the 
otner.  The  attempts  I  have  seen  in  some  of  the  papers  to  show 
that  literally  more  has  been  done  for  foreign  than  for  domestic 
missions,  I  pass  by,  as  unworthy  of  an  answer :  you  can  count 
every  cent  that  is  expended  for  the  foreign  field,  but  you  have  not 
the  statistics  for  one-half  the  expenses  of  the  domestic  field  ;  and 
yet  it  is  easily  shown  that  even  the  half  of  those  expenses  is  much 
greater  than  all  that  is  expended  abroad^  These  men  talk  of  the 
vastness  of  the  domestic  field,  of  the  favorable  openings,  of  the 
need  of  laborers  ;  and  they  tell  us  that  these  men  are  our  brethren, 
and  have  special  claims  upon  us.  I  admit  it  all,  and  if  I  could 
add  anything  to  the  force  of  what  they  say,  I  would  beseech  you, 
by  the  mercies  of  Christ,  and  by  your  love  for  the  souls  of  your 
brethren,  to  do  with  your  might  what  your  hands  find  to  do  for 
them.  But  why  should  this  be  done  by  disparaging  the  claims 
of  the  foreign  field  ?  O  brethren,  if  I  could  show  you  what  I  have 
lately  seen, — the  numerous  openings  where  the  gospel  may  be 
preached,  the  unnumbered  thousands  who  are  accessible  with  far 
more  ease  than  the  scattered  inhabitants  of  the  West,  the  fewness 
and  feebleness  of  the  laborers  sent  by  the  Church, — and  if  we 
could  all  feel  that  these,  too,  are  our  brethren,  seeing  God  hath 
made  us  all  of  one  blood  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth,  you 
would  give  little  heed  to  such  unworthy  comparisons.  If  the 
church  were  now  doing  all  in  her  power;  if  every  nerve  were 
strained  as  much  as  the  gospel  requires,  then  there  might  be  oc- 
casion to  pause,  and  ask,  are  we  not  doing  too  much  here,  or  too 
much  there  ?  But  as  long  as  more  than  half  the  Church  is  doing 
nothing,  absolutely  nothing,  let  there  be  no  more  complaints  that 
too  much  is  done  for  the  heathen.  I  object  to  the  papers  referred 
to,  because  they  give  countenance  to  the  idea,  that  the  interests 
of  the  foreign  and  domestic  fields  are  not  the  same.  If  there  is 
any  man  who  renounces  such  an  idea,  it  is  the  missionary  to  the 
heathen.  Our  hearts  rejoice  within  us  when  we  hear  of  the  ex- 


260  MEMOIR  OP  \VALTER  M.  LOWRIE. 

tension  of  the  cause  of  Christ  at  home,  and  that  the  gospel  is 
preached  to  the  poor  and  the  destitute.  Why  ?  Not  only  because 
of  the  amount  of  actual  good  accomplished,  but  because  we  know 
that  thus  new  funds,  and  new  men,  are  raised  up  for  the  foreign 
field,  and  additional  prayers  ascend  on  our  behalf.  Every  con- 
quest at  home  increases  our  strength  abroad.  But  if  we  are  told 
that  these  conquests  are  to  be  gained  henceforth  by  diminishing 
the  efforts  abroad,  and  disparaging  the  importance  of  the  work  in 
which  we  are  engaged,  then  we  have  small  reason  to  rejoice. 
But  I  will  not  believe  that  such  one-sided  views  shall  ever  gain 
general  currency  among  those  who  see  and  know,  that  one  of  the 
surest  ways  to  promote  vital  piety  at  home,  is  to  make  it  active 
and  expansive  ;  so  that,  while  it  rejoices  to  do  good  to  those  around, 
it  embraces  the  world  in  the  wide  arms  of  charity. 

The  remark  is  often  made  that  missionaries,  by  giving  so  much 
of  their  attention  to  a  particular  subject,  become  men  of  merely 
one  idea,  and  do  not  in  their  appeals  and  communications  advert 
sufficiently  to  the  wants  of  other  fields.  I  have  no  disposition  to 
deny  the  charge,  for  in  this  world  it  is  but  seldom  that  much  is 
done,  except  by  such  men  of  one  idea.  The  man  whose  mind  is 
filled  with  an  hundred  ideas  is  likely  to  do  much  less  for  any  of 
them  than  the  man  of  one  idea  does  for  all.  But  it  is  a  question 
worthy  of  consideration,  whether  the  man  who  looks  solely  at  the 
little  corner  where  himself  is  located  is  not  more  truly  liable  to 
the  charge  of  being  a  man  of  one  idea,  and  that  sometimes  a 
very  contracted  one.  The  missionary  has  seen  the  destitutions 
of  his  own  country,  and  he  has  also  seen  the  destitutions  of  the 
heathen.  Why  is  he  not  at  least  as  well  qualified  to  judge  of  the 
comparative  claims  of  each,  as  the  man  who  has  never  been 
beyond  the  bounds  of  his  own  state,  or  it  may  be,  the  limits  of 
his  own  neighborhood  1 

I  observe  that  one  of  the  "  standing  requests  "  you  propose  to 
your  foreign  correspondents  is,  "  Can  you  send  us  any  curiosi- 
ties ?"  To  this  I  answer,  "  Yes,  plenty ;  if  I  had  the  money  to 
buy  them  with."  Such  things  are  not  easily  to  be  procured  with- 
out paying  for  them ;  and  as  a  missionary's  salary  does  not  com- 
monly give  him  a  great  deal  of  spending  money  besides  his 
necessary  expenses,  he  cannot  easily  send  many  curiosities  to  all 
who  would  like  to  have  them.  I  will,  however,  keep  my  eyes 
open,  and  endeavor  to  make  some  addition  to  your  cabinet. 
Allow  me  to  suggest  whether  it  would  not  be  better  for  you  to 
make  an  annual  appropriation  of  ten,  twenty,  or  thirty  dollars, 
and  request  some  of  the  missionaries  to  procure  articles  for  your 
cabinet?  I  will  most  cheerfully  undertake  any  such  commission 
for  you,  and  will  procure  either  such  articles  as  you  may  specify, 
or  myself  select  such  as  may  be  interesting,  and  I  am  sure  that 
Wilson,  and  Scott,  and  Owen,  and  Janvier,  in  India,  and  Sawyer 
in  Africa,  and  Dougherty  and  Loughridge,  will  do  the  same  with 
equal  cheerfulness  in  their  respective  fields.  There  will  be  no 


LETTERS.  261 

difficulty  in  remitting  the  money,  .for  all  that  is  necessary  is  to 
pay  it  at  the  Mission  Rooms  at  New  York,  stating  that  it  is  "  for 
curiosities,  &c.,  for  the  Seminary  at  Princeton."  Have  you  a  set 
of  the  Chinese  Repository  ?  I  know  you  have  one  or  two  of  the 
volumes ;  but  it  is  very  desirable  that  you  have  the  whole  set, 
for  there  is  no  work,  ancient  or  modern,  that  gives  so  much  in- 
formation concerning  China.  If  you  will  give  me  instructions  to 
that  effect,  and  tell  me  what  volumes  you  have,  I  can  easily  pro- 
cure you  the  others.  There  are  now  twelve  volumes ;  the  first 
and  second  are  six  dollars  each,  and  the  other  ten  three  dollars 
each,  being  forty-two  dollars  for  the  set.  It  is  continued  yearly 
at  three  dollars  a  year. 

Do  you  still  make  it  a  rule  to  send  one  of  the  Seminary  Cata- 
logues to  each  of  your  members  who  goes  to  the  foreign  field  ? 
It  will  give  me  much  pleasure  to  receive  one  yearly ;  and  as  all 
my  acquaintances  in  the  seminary  will  soon  be  gone  from  among 
you,  I  shall  not  know  whom  to  look  to,  except  the  Society  of 
Inquiry. 

I  must  now  bring  this  lengthy  epistle  to  a  close.  That  every 
blessing  from  above  may  rest  upon  you,  may  direct  your  future 
course,  and  crown  your  labors  with  success,  is  the  prayer  of  your 
friend  and  brother  in  the  gospel, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  December  30th,  1843. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

....  The  principal  occurrence  of  interest  during  the  month 
has  been  some  rather  public  discussions  of  the  visit  paid  by  Mr. 
Abeel  and  myself  to  Chang-Chowfoo.  After  my  return,  Mr. 
Bridgeman  and  others  importuned  me  to  write  an  account  of  it 
for  the  Chinese  Repository.  I  declined  at  first,  from  a  dislike  to 
make  myself  so  prominent  as  such  an  account  would  necessarily 
make  me.  Being  still  urged  I  consented,  and  Mr,  Bridgeman 
and  myself  looked  over  it  carefully  to  see  that  there  were  no 
incorrect  statements ;  and,  not  to  offend  our  English  friends, 
omitted  all  reference  to  the  manner  in  which  the  officers  at 
Chang-Chow  spoke  of  Americans.  The  article  was  read  with 
interest,  and  among  others  an  English  officer  of  some  influence 
in  Hong  Kong  spoke  of  it  quite  favorably.  Judge,  then,  of  my 
surprise,  when  a  few  days  afterwards  Sir  Henry  Pottinger  pub- 
lished a  proclamation  expressly  referring  to  it,  pointedly  condemn- 
ing our  conduct,  and  informing  the  Chinese  authorities  of  the 
Provinces  of  Canton  and  Fuhkeen,  that  the  "party,  &c.,  were 
Americans  !"  This  excited  no  little  talk,  and  I  heard  many  per- 
sons condemn  Sir  Henry's  course  as  impertinent  and  uncalled 
for,  though  I  found  that  the  insinuations  of  the  proclamation 
were  leaving  unfavorable  impressions  as  to  my  conduct.  I  ac- 
cordingly prepared  a  reply,  and  sent  it  to  the  "Friend  of  China." 


262  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

A  cautious  friend  in  Hong  Kong,  without  my  leave,  withdrew 
the  article.  When  he  gave  me  his  reasons,  I  did  not  deem  them 
sufficient.  I  could  not  see  how  a  plain  and  manly  defence  of 
one's  course  against  uncalled  for  and  injurious  charges  was  im- 
proper. I  considered  too  that  our  American  citizenship  and  free- 
dom from  the  surveillance  of  English  authorities,  were  important 
circumstances  in  our  favor  in  carrying  on  the  work  of  missions 
here,  and  were  to  be  defended  and  maintained.  Accordingly  I 
wrote  another  article,  which  appeared  this  week  in  the  Friend  of 
China. 

In  consequence  of  Sir  Henry's  letter  to  the  governor  of  Canton, 
the  latter  addressed  a  letter  to  the  American  consul,  informing  him 
of  the  affair,  and  urging  him  to  enforce  on  his  countrymen  the 
necessity  of  obedience  to  the  treaty.  Mr.  Forbes  wrote  back  that 
his  countrymen  would  always  obey  the  laws  when  made  known ; 
but  that  when  we  went  to  Chang-Chow,  the  supplementary  treaty 
was  not  known  to  us.  He  also  wrote  me  a  very  gentlemanly  let- 
ter, more,  I  suppose,  as  a  matter  of  form  than  anything  else,  in- 
forming me  of  the  communication  of  the  governor  of  Canton. 

The  notoriety  attending  this  affair  has  been  not  a  little  unpleas- 
ant and  annoying  to  me,  but  I  do  not  feel  that  I  have  done  any- 
thing to  be  ashamed  of.  I  suppose  it  is  to  be  considered  as  one 
of  the  necessary  trials  of  this  state  of  warfare,  and  a  wholesome 
discipline  to  prepare  me  for  future  trials.  Pray  for  me  that  I  may 

have  wisdom  and  prudence  to  guide  me  in  all  my  ways 

Your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


GOVERNMENT  NOTIFICATION. 

The  annexed  copy  of  an  official  communication,  addressed  on 
the  18th  instant  by  Her  Britannic  Majesty's  Plenipotentiary,  &c., 
in  China,  to  their  Excellencies  the  Viceroy  and  Lieut.  Governor 
at  Canton,  is  published  for  the  information  and  warning  of  Her 
Majesty's  subjects,  as  well  as  of  the  subjects  or  citizens  of  all 
other  states,  who  may  be  at  this  time  residing  at  any  place  occu- 
pied by  Her  Majesty's  forces  in  China. 

In  directing  the  publication  of  this  letter,  Her  Britannic  Majes- 
ty's Plenipotentiary  cannot  refrain  from  expressing  both  his  disap- 
probation of,  and  great  surprise  at  the  conduct  of  the  persons  con- 
cerned in  this  matter*, 'who  appear  not  only  to  have  gone  to  the 
very  unjustifiable  length  of  bearding  the  local  authorities,  but  to 
have  attempted  to  explain  the  stipulations  of  some  parts  of  the 
treaty,  in  a  way  that  could  not  fail  to  excite  the  alarm  and  appre- 
hension of  the  government  of  China,  as  well  as  the  indignation 
of  all  right  thinking  persons,  at  so  gross  an  evasion  of  a  solemn 
engagement  between  two  great  empires. 


LETTERS.  263 

By  order  of  his  Excellency,  Her  Britannic  Majesty's  Plenipoten- 
tiary, &c.,  &.C.,  in  China. 

RICHARD  WOOSNAM. 
Government  House,  Victoria, 
Hong  Kong,  27th  November,  1843. 


Government  House,  Victoria, 
(Hong  Kong,}  November  18th,  1843. 

I  trouble  your  Excellencies  with  this  letter,  in  consequence  of 
my  attention  having  been  called  to  a  "Narrative  of  a  recent  Visit 
to  the  Chief  City  of  the  Department  of  Chang-Chow,  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  Fokeen,"  which  has  just  been  published  at  Macao,  and 
from  which  it  would  appear  that  certain  foreigners  had,  during 
last  month,  visited  the  said  city  of  Chang-Chow,  and  forced  their 
way  into  the  country,  in  opposition  to  the  wishes  and  orders  of  the 
local  authorities,  who  pointed  out  to  the  foreigners  that  their  doing 
so  was  contrary  to  the  treaty,  &c.,  &c. 

From  this  remark  of  the  local  authorities,  I  can  only  infer — es- 
pecially as  the  provisions  of  the  supplementary  treaty  were  not  at 
that  time  made  public — that  the  mandarins  believed  the  persons 
who  thus  acted  to  be  Englishmen,  and  I  should  therefore  esteem 
it  a  favor,  your  Excellencies'  officially  informing  the  Viceroy  and 
Lieutenant  Governor  of  Fokeen,  that  the  party  of  foreigners  who 
visited  Chang  Chow  Foo  and  forced  their  way  into  the  country, 
were  Americans  and  not  British  subjects. 

I  reiterate  to  your  Excellencies  my  constant  and  earnest  desire 
to  restrain  all  British  subjects  from  thus,  or  in  any  other  respect, 
committing  the  smallest  infraction  of  the  terms  of  the  treaty ;  and, 
should  any  of  them  hereafter  attempt  to  do  so — no  matter  what 
the  pretence  may  be — in  defiance  of  the  rules  that  have  been  laid 
down,  and  the  proclamations  that  have  been  issued,  I  trust  the 
local  mandarins  will  seize  and  confine  them,  and  will  send  them 
to  the  nearest  English  Consular  Officer,  to  be  dealt  with  as  may 
be  found  necessary  and  proper  to  enforce  implicit  obedience. 

In  addition  to  making  this  official  communication  to  your  Ex- 
cellencies, I  shall  publish  this  letter,  and  instruct  all  British  Con- 
sular and  other  officers,  to  warn  all  persons  residing  under  their 
authority  against  any  infraction,  however  trifling,  of  the  rules  and 
regulations  that  have  been  laid  down. 

I  avail  myself  of  this  opportunity  to  convey  to  your  Excellen- 
cies my  best  wishes  for  your  health  and  happiness. 

(Signed,)  HENRY  POTTINGER. 

True  Copy, 

RICHARD  WOOSNAM. 
Their  Excellencies 

KEKUNG,  Viceroy,  &c.,  &c.,  &c., 

CHINGKEAHTSAI,  Lieutenant  Governor,  &c.,  Canton. 


264  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  December  23d,  1843. 
To  THE  EDITOR  OF  THE  FRIEND  OF  CHINA — 

DEAR  SIR  : — A  government  notification  dated  November  27th, 
appeared  in  your  paper  some  time  since,  on  which  I  beg  leave  to 
offer  a  few  remarks ;  circumstances  beyond  my  control  have  pre- 
vented me  from  doing  so  at  an  earlier  date. 

The  first  thing  remarkable  in  the  notification  is,  that  it  refers 
to  persons  over  whom  Sir  Henry  Pottinger  has  no  control,  and  for 
whose  conduct  he  is  not  responsible.  His  Excellency  was  aware 
of  this,  yet  he  assumes  the  power  to  express  OFFICIALLY  "both 
his  disapprobation  of,  and  great  surprise  at,  the  conduct  of"  Amer- 
icans. The  notification  is  still  more  remarkable,  because,  so  far 
as  appears,  no  complaint  was  made  to  Sir  Henry  by  the  Chinese 
authorities.  It  is  not  commonly  thought  to  be  the  duty  of  H.  B. 
M.  Plenipotentiary  in  China,  to  report  the  conduct  of  even  his  own 
countrymen  to  the  Chinese  government.  How  much  less  does  it 
become  him  to  act  the  part  of  informer  against  the  citizens  of 
other  countries.  On  these  two  points,  however,  as  well  as  in  re- 
gard to  the  hard  words  of  the  notification,  but  little  need  be  said. 
The  opinion  of  "all  right  thinking  persons"  is  already  formed 
concerning  them,  and  from  that  opinion  I  shall  not  appeal. 

The  letter  of  Sir  Henry  Pottinger  to  the  Governor  and  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor  of  the  Province  of  Canton,  is  calculated  to  convey 
the  impression,  that  the  persons  of  whose  conduct  he  complains, 
went  by  force  and  violence  to  Chang-Chow.  He  says  more  than 
once  "  they  forced  their  way  into  the  country,"  and  also  that  they 
"  bearded  the  local  authorities."  It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  force 
was  neither  used  nor  intended,  nor  was  a  sign  of  opposition  shown 
until  after  we  had  hired  lodgings  in  Chang-Chow ;  and  if  quietly 
reasoning  with  Chinese  officers  be  "  unjustifiably  bearding  them," 
we  may  possibly  be  guilty  of  the  same  offence  again.  As  to  our 
misinterpreting  the  treaty  and  "grossly  evading  solemn  engage- 
ments," His  Excellency  claims  more  for  the  treaty  of  Nankin,  than 
its  published  extracts  contain.  What  article  of  that  treaty  prohib- 
its even  Englishmen  from  visiting  other  places  besides  the  five 
ports  ?  And  why  was  article  sixth  inserted  in  the  Supplementary 
Treaty  if  the  previous  treaty  spoke  definitely  on  that  point  ?  His 
Excellency  informs  the  Chinese  authorities  that  "  the  party  of 
foreigners  who  visited  Chang-Chowfoo,  were  Americans."  Does  he 
mean  to  inform  them  that  none  but  Americans  have  gone  there  1 
If  not,  the  definitive  article  is  singularly  out  of  place.  If  he  does, 
it  will  not  be  hard  to  prove  that  several  parties  of  Englishmen 
have  visited  the  same  city.  His  Excellency  also  says,  "I  can 
only  infer  that  the  Mandarins  believed  the  persons  who  thus  acted 
to  be  Englishmen."  The  natural  "  inference"  from  this  sentence 
is,  that  we  passed  ourselves  off  for  Englishmen — else  why  should 
the  Chinese  believe  we  were  such?  Does  Sir  Henry  mean  to  as- 
sert this  ?  If  he  does,  I  beg  leave  to  assure  him  of  the  contrary. 


LETTERS.  265 

The  Mandarins  did  not  believe  we  were  Englishmen,  because  we 
told  them  from  the  first,  that  we  were  Americans  ;  and  this  might 
have  been  "  inferred"  from  the  "  narrative,"  just  as  readily  as  the 
reverse.  They  asked  us  "  who  we  were,"  and  the  charity  that 
thinketh  no  evil,  would  have  inferred  that  we  told  them  the  truth. 
Your  obedient  servant, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

1844. 

RESIDENCE   IN   MACAO — LETTERS CHINESE   PRINTING   WITH    METAL   TYPE — 

ARRIVAL   OF   NEW  MISSIONARIES — THEIR   FIELDS   OF   LABOR. 

DURING  the  year  1844,  the  missionary  force  in  China  was  much 
enlarged.  In  February,  D.  B.  McCartee.  M.D.,  and  Mr.  R.  Cole, 
printer,  and  his  wife,  reached  China.  The  Rev.  R.  Q,.  Way  and 
his  wife  arrived  in  July,  and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  J.  Lloyd,  A.  P. 
Happer,  M.D.,  A.  W.  Loomis,  and  M.  S.  Culbertson,  with  Mr^ 
Loomis  and  Mrs.  Culbertson,  in  October. 

The  location  of  these  brethren  at  the  different  missions,  was  a 
subject  of  much  importance,  and  of  some  delicacy.  In  relation  to 
it,  the  officers  of  the  board  had  conversed  freely  with  the  new  mis- 
sionaries, after  which,  with  some  general  suggestions  from  the 
Executive  Committee,  the  matter  was  left  to  their  own  decision. 
Though  younger  than  some  of  his  colleagues,  yet  as  the  mission- 
ary longest  in  China,  much  of  the  responsibility  rested  on  Mr. 
Lowrie ;  and  until  their  respective  missions  were  fixed,  it  was  to 
him  a  time  of  much  anxiety  and  care.  After  a  season  of  prayer 
for  Divine  direction,  with  much  harmony  they  arranged  their 
places  at  the  different  missions.  At  Canton  were  settled  Mr.  Hap- 
per, and  for  the  present,  Mr.  Cole,  with  the  press ;  at  Amoy,  Mr. 
Lloyd  and  Dr.  Hepburn,  who  were  to  be  joined  by  the  Rev.  H.  A. 
Brown,  when  he  should  arrive ;  at  Ningpo,  Mr.  Lowrie,  Mr.  Way, 
Mr.  Culbertson,  Mr.  Loomis.  and  Dr.  McCartee.  This  arrange- 
ment involved  the  separation  of  two  friends,  Messrs.  Lloyd  and 
Lowrie,  and  most  deeply  was  it  felt  by  both.  Both  were  con- 
vinced, however,  that  the  interests  of  the  Master's  cause  required 
this  trial,  keen  as  it  was,  and  after  a  short  interview  of  two 
weeks,  they  parted  to  meet  no  more  on  earth. 

The  printing  press  and  the  Chinese  matrices  were  received  in 
February,  when  Mr.  Cole  arrived.  The  theory  of  printing  the 
Chinese  language  with  metal  type — a  large  portion  of  them  being 


LETTERS.  267 

divisible  characters — was  to  be  reduced  to  practice,  and  tested  by 
actual  experiment.  The  type  were  to  be  cast,  and  four  thousand 
different  characters  were  to  be  arranged  in  cases  for  the  composi- 
tor. To  be  convenient,  the  characters  most  frequently  used  re- 
quired to  be  placed  together,  whilst  regard  was  to  be  had  to  the 
principles  of  the  language,  as  arranged  under  their  different  radi- 
cals or  keys.  Mr.  Cole  was  experienced  in  English  printing,  but 
he  had  no  knowledge  of  Chinese,  and  the  entire  arrangement  of 
the  Chinese  characters  devolved  on  Mr.  Lowrie.  Everything  was 
new.  Some  of  the  characters  occur  very  rarely,  others  occur  re- 
peatedly on  every  page ;  hence  some  approximation  to  the  relative 
number  of  each  had  to  be  made,  before  the  type  could  be  cast,  and 
the  difficulty  of  this  work  was  increased  by  a  large  part  of  them 
being  divisible.  After  months  of  labor,  these  difficult  matters 
were  accomplished,  and  the  press  went  into  successful  operation 
in  June. 

Besides  attention  to  the  press,  much  of  his  time  was  required 
on  behalf  of  the  other  missionaries.  He  was  their  general  treas- 
urer. He  was  in  a  measure  at  home ;  they  were  in  a  strange 
place ;  their  business  affairs  necessarily  fell  to  his  share,  and  his 
services  were  of  much  benefit  to  them.  His  correspondence  with 
the  Mission  House  was  also  very  full.  Much  to  his  regret,  these 
various  items  greatly  interfered  with  his  Chinese  studies. 

During  this  year,  Mr.  Lowrie  prepared  a  series  of  articles  on  the 
history  of  the  missionary  work  in  China,  with  a  brief  account  of 
the  Jews  and  Christians  in  China,  which  were  published  in  the 
Chinese  Repository.  They  were  afterwards  reprinted  in  the  Uni- 
ted States,  under  the  title  of  the  Land  of  Sinim,  or  an  exposition  of 
Isaiah  xlix.  12. 

Dr.  McCartee  left  Macao  for  Ningpo  in  June,  and  Mr.  Way  and 
his  wife  in  August.  Mr.  Lloyd  left  for  Amoy  in  November. 
Owing  to  the  north-east  monsoon,  the  other  missionaries  for 
Ningpo  did  not  set  out  till  the  February  following. 

Macao,  January  1st,  1844. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

I  wish  you  a  very  happy  new  year,  and  many  returns  of  the 
same !  How  rapidly  the  last  year  has  flown  away !  .  .  .  .  After 
breakfast  I  sat  down  to  my  Chinese  with  my  teacher,  and  read  a 
little,  and  got  him  to  explain  a  few  phrases  to  me.  He  asked  me 
what  so  many  of  my  friends  came  here  for  yesterday,  and  I  told 
him  it  was  for  public  worship  ;  that  we  read  our  sacred  books,  and 


268  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER   M.    LOWRIE. 

sung  and  prayed,  and  that  I  explained  what  was  read.  He  said 
this  was  very  proper  ;  that  formerly  there  had  been  the  same  cus- 
tom in  China,  but  not  now ;  he  did  not  know  why  it  was  not 
used  now. 

....  After  making  a  number  of  calls  through  the  day,  Mr.  W. 
and  I  started  out,  and  walked  beyond  the  Barrier.  It  was  after 
dark  before  we  got  back.  He  told  me  that  some  of  the  people  did 
not  like  my  sermon  yesterday,  and  that  one  who  had  not  heard  it 
was  a  good  deal  displeased.  I  expected  this.  It  was  about  Sab- 
bath-breaking, and  I  took  occasion  to  bear  as  decided  a  testimony 
as  I  could  against  the  general  desecration  of  the  Sabbath  here,  by 
all  classes  :  for  example,  the  Supplementary  Treaty  was  signed 
on  Sabbath,  with  all  its  parade  and  confusion.  The  mails  for 
England  were  closed  yesterday  week  at  Hong  Kong,  thus  requir- 
ing the  foreigners  there  to  spend  that  day  in  their  counting-houses. 
I  referred  to  these  facts.  The  highest  officer  commonly  takes  the 
Sabbath  to  go  between  Hong  Kong  and  Macao.  One  left  this 
place  yesterday  in  the  steamer  for  Hong  Kong.  Many  of  the 
merchants  regularly  spend  the  Sabbath  in  their  counting-houses. 
More  ships  are  despatched  on  the  Sabbath  than  on  any  other  day 
of  the  week.  This  I  know.  The  Sabbath  is  the  day  for  visiting 
here,  as  in  all  other  parts  of  the  East  Indies.  Oh,  it  is  most  mel- 
ancholy to  see  how  the  day  is  profaned,  and  that,  too,  by  men 
who  at  home  would  not  dare  to  do  so.  Most  men  seem  to  leave 
their  consciences  and  the  fear  of  God  behind  them  when  they 
come  to  China.  The  heathen  see  them,  and  have  dealings  with 
them,  and  they  think  we  are  all  alike.  Judge,  then,  what  effect 
our  preaching  and  exhortations  have  upon  them. 

Ten  o'clock,  p.  M.  You  are  just  commencing  the  day.  So  it  is : 
those  who  love  each  other  are  widely  separated,  but  such  separa- 
tions will  not  last  forever,  and  if  time  always  rolls  as  fast  as  the 
last  year  has  done,  they  will  very  soon  be  no  more.  Oh  that  we 

may  all  meet  at  last  where  we  shall  go  no  more  out 

Yours  affectionately, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  January  18th,  1844. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

This  day  finishes  two  years  since  I  left  the  United  States.  I 
know  not  how  the  time  has  seemed  to  you,  but  to  me  it  appears 
under  a  very  singular  aspect.  It  has  gone  so  rapidly  that  I  can 
scarce  conceive  so  much  has  really  elapsed ;  and  yet  it  has  led  me 
through  so  many  strange  scenes,  that  I  can  scarcely  crowd  them 
all  into  it.  I  like  to  look  back  occasionally,  for  the  immediate 
effects  of  all  I  have  seen  have  passed  away,  and  they  come  up 
before  me  quietly  and  calmly  to  be  thought  about.  I  try  to  look 
forward,  but  in  vain,  for  I  know  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth. 
I  am  just  as  uncertain  as  I  was  two  years  ago,  where  my  lot  shall 


LETTERS.  269 

yet  be  cast,  or  whether  I  shall  ever  find  a  "  place  of  rest."  It  is 
not  an  easy  thing  to  learn  to  live  by  the  day,  or  in  "  patience  to 
possess  one's  soul."  I  want  to  be  moving,  to  be  doing  something, 
to  see  results  ;  but  my  mouth  is  closed,  and  at  present  my  feet 
are  bound.  Sometimes  it  is,  "  Oh  that  I  had  wings  like  a  dove, 
for  then  would  I  fly  away  ;"  but  then  again  the  word  comes,  "  The 
husbandman  hath  long  patience."  This  is  a  trial  of  missionary 
life  that  did  not  at  first  enter  much  into  my  thoughts,  its  compar- 
ative inaction.  I  am  busy  as  I  can  well  be,  yet  my  life  is  as  quiet 
as  it  was  in  the  Seminary,  and  I  see  even  less  of  company.  It  is 
nearly  three  weeks  since  I  have  spoken  to  a  lady,  and  it  is  three 
months  since  I  have  spent  a  day  in  a  house  with  one.  So  we 
pass  away.  We  are  strangers  here,  at  one  time  walking  in  the 
crowded  streets,  and  at  another  threading  the  wilderness  path 
alone,  but  ever  pressing  on  to  the  end  of  our  course.  Shall  it  be 
long  or  short?  painful  or  pleasant?  But  these  are  not  the  ques- 
tions for  us  to  ask.  It  is  ours  to  take  no  thought  for  the  morrow. 
January  19.  As  clear  and  bright  a  day  as  it  was  two  years  ago, 
but  a  good  deal  warmer.  After  reading  a  page  or  so  in  the  San 
Ko  Che,  or  History  of  the  Three  States,  I  started  off  about  eleven 
o'clock,  with  my  teacher,  to  visit  the  temple  of  Wakok.  (I  wrote 
a  description  of  it  some  time  ago  for  the  Foreign  Missionary.)  I 
had  been  there  often,  but  wanted  my  teacher  to  explain  some 
things  which  I  did  not  understand.  As  you  may  suppose,  1  talk 
with  him  in  very  broken  language,  and  can  understand  only  a 

rro- 


part  of  what  he  says,  but  we  make  out  to  talk  a  good 
gether.  I  think  I  can  see  his  respect  for  the  superstitions  of  his 
own  country  perceptibly  decreasing,  though  I  fear  that  it  is  only 
to  make  way  for  an  indifference  to  religion  that  is  even  worse. 
A  couple  of  well-dressed  and  respectable-looking  men  were  bow- 
ing and  kneeling,  lighting  incense-sticks,  and  burning  paper  be- 
fore the  images.  He  said  they  were  praying  for  wealth  ;  but  he 
acknowledged  that  the  images  could  not  hear  them.  They  went 
to  several  of  the  images,  and  as  they  went  to  each  one,  an  at- 
tendant struck  the  bell  and  the  drum  several  times.  I  asked  him 
what  that  was  for  ?  He  said,  to  "  rouse  the  attention  of  the  idol, 
and  make  her  hear  !"  I  asked  him  what  sort  of  gods  these  were, 
when  it  was  necessary  to  awaken  them  to  make  them  listen  to 
their  worshippers  ?  He  said,  with  a  good  deal  of  earnestness,  "  I 
don't  worship  these  ;  I  worship  only  the  spirit  that  is  represented 
by  them."  However,  he  acknowledged  that  most  of  the  people 
worshipped  the  idol.  He  then  asked  me,  if  we  used  no  images  of 
Jesus  Christ  ?  I  said  no  ;  that  the  Roman  Catholics  used  a 
crucifix,  but  that  I  thought  this  wrong,  and  that  it  was  folly  to 
worship  any  image.  "  It  had  eyes,  but  could  not  see  ;  ears,  but 
could  not  hear;  nose,  but  could  not  smell;  feet,  but  could  not 
walk."  It  is  just  so  here.  O  that  he  were  a  Christian  !  He  is  a 
very  amiable  man,  a  man  of  some  learning,  and  simple-minded, 
and  might  do  great  good  if  converted.  I  like  him  far  better  than 


270  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

any  teacher  I  have  yet  had,  and  he  seems  very  well  satisfied  to 
stay  with  me ;  though  he  does  get  tired  sometimes,  when  I  ply 
him  with  questions,  and  keep  him  sitting  by  me  for  three  or  four 
hours  together.  I  told  him  the  other  day,  that  in  the  United 
States  we  elected  our  own  Hwang  Shang  and  Tsung  Ttik, 
"Emperor  and  Viceroys."  (The  Chinese  have  no  word  corres- 
ponding to  President  and  Governors.)  I  think  I  never  saw  a  man 
so  astonished.  He  held  up  both  hands,  and  stared  at  me,  and  at 
last  exclaimed,  "  Hi  yah  !  Astonishing  !  I  never  heard  of  such  a 
thing!"  He  said  at  first  it  was  a  very  bad  plan,  for  the  people 
would  be  always  fighting.  But  after  I  had  shown  him  that  in 
this  way  we  secured  the  election  of  just  officers,  and  men  who 
would  not  oppress  us,  while  their  officers,  according  to  his  own 
acknowledgment,  were  extremely  venal  and  extortionate,  he  said, 
"Well,  perhaps  it  may  be  good  for  you,  but  I'm  sure  it  wouldn't 
be  possible  to  do  so  here ;"  which  is  very  true.  It  is  wonderful 
how  ignorant  the  Chinese  learned  men  are.  I  believe  he  looks 
on  me  as  a  sort  of  Baron  Monchausen,  though  I  have  told  him 
very  little  that  is  not  known  to  every  school-boy  in  the  United 
States.  .  .  f . 

Hoping  to  hear  from  you  soon,  I  remain,  as  ever, 

Yours  affectionately,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  February  1st,  1844. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER: — 

I  have  the  pleasure  of  sending  herewith  something  that  I  think 
will  amuse  you.  It  is  a  letter  to  yourself,  in  Chinese,  from  my 
Chinese  teacher.  In  my  conversation  with  him,  I  have  at  differ- 
ent times  told  him  particulars  about  our  family,  and  of  course 
have  not  failed  to  speak  of  you.  I  told  him  you  knew  something 
of  Chinese,  at  which  he  was  greatly  astonished  and  gratified,  and 
one  day  I  proposed  to  him  that  he  should  write  you  a  letter.  The 
idea  pleased  him  wonderfully,  and  in  a  day  or  two  he  brought  me 
the  inclosed.  It  is  entirely  of  his  own  composition,  and  does  not 
contain  an  idea  suggested  by  myself,  e.  g.,  I  did  not  tell  him  any- 
thing of  what  he  ought  to  write  about,  though,  as  you  will  see,  he 
has  referred  in  it  to  various  things  I  have  said.  It  is  composed 
with  a  good  deal  of  art,  and  several  of  the  sentences  correspond 
together  in  a  way  that  the  Chinese  call  very  beautiful.  Moreover 
it  is,  as  my  teacher  says,  Haou  Kan,  very  beautiful  to  see,  and 
Haou  Ting,  very  beautiful  to  hear ;  being,  in  fact,  a  Wan  Chang, 
which  none  but  a  Sewtsae  or  a  Keujin  could  write.  How  difficult 
it  is  to  write  I  know  not,  but  it  is  certainly  not  easy  to  read,  for  I 
would  rather  undertake  a  dozen  pages  of  the  /Sara  Ko  Che,  or 
History  of  the  Three  States,  than  another  of  these  letters.  It  took 
me  a  whole  day  to  read  it,  with  my  teacher  himself  to  explain  it 
to  me ;  and  I  assure  you  I  thought  I  had  made  no  small  progress 
in  learning  Chinese,  when  I  at  last  discovered  the  meaning. 


LETTERS.  271 

It  seems  to  me  the  more  I  think  about  the  matter,  that  there 
must  be  a  radical  change  in  the  literature  and  literary  style  of 
China,  before  it  can  be  made  the  vehicle  of  permanent  and  exten- 
sive usefulness.  A  great  deal  is  said  of  the  fact,  that  so  many  in 
China  can  read,  but  it  is  to  be  feared  that  a  great  deal  too  much 
is  expected  from  this.  Their  literature  at  present,  and  the  style 
in  which  it  is  written,  reminds  me  very  much  of  the  state  of  Eu- 
rope before  the  Reformation.  There  were  learned  men  then,  and 
they  had  a  learned  language,  different  from  that  of  every-day  life, 
which  the  common  people  did  not  understand.  This  learned  lan- 
guage was  known  to  the  learned  all  over  Europe,  and  even  some 
of  the  poorer  class  could  read  it,  for  the  alphabet  was  the  same  in 
most  places  ;  but  they  did  not  understand  what  they  read,  and  of 
those  who  did  understand,  and  wrote  in  the  learned  language,  the 
less  that  is  said  the  better.  Who  reads  their  writings  now,  or 
cares  for  their  opinions  ?  A  new  mode  of  thinking,  and  speaking, 
and  writing  was  introduced  after  the  Reformation,  and  the  old 
has  disappeare3.  Very  much  the  same  revolution,  in  my  humble 
judgment,  must  occur  in  China.  They  have  a  learned  language 
here,  and  unless  a  book  be  written  in  that  language,  it  has  little 
favor.  That  language  may  be  learned  by  many  years  of  study, 
but  it  is  not  the  language  of  the  people,  nor  of  nature.  Many 
who  can  pronounce  the  characters  do  not  understand  them  ;  and 
the  world  will  be  never  the  worse,  if  nine-tenths  of  the  books  at 
present  in  circulation  here  be  lost  forever.  Some  Chinese  Bacon 
must  arise,  and  do  for  China  what  Lord  Verulam  did  for  Europe. 

I  speak  with  a  good  deal  of  diffidence  on  these  points,  for  I  am 
only  forming  my  own  opinion  about  them,  and  others  who  ought 
to  know  more  think  differently.  I  am,  however,  very  far  from 
supposing  that  the  Chinese  styles,  either  of  printing,  or  speaking, 
or  writing,  or  acting,  are  always  the  most  tasteful,  or  the  most 
convenient,  or  the  most  practically  useful.  In  general  I  think 
them  very  much  like  their  thick-soled  shoes,  which  my  teacher 
says  "  are  very  good-looking,  but  not  so  good  to  walk  with." 
There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  truth  of  the  latter  part  of  this  re- 
mark, while  each  one  must  judge  for  himself  of  the  good  looks. 

....  I  send  you  my  Luban  walking-stick,  which  you  must  take 
good  care  of,  though  I  hope  it  will  be  long  before  you  need  to  use 
it.  I  do  not  want  to  use  it  myself,  for  it  might  get  broken  or  be 
lost,  and  therefore,  for  safe-keeping,  I  will  put  it  in  your  hands. 

That  every  blessing  may  ever  rest  upon  you  is  the  prayer  of 
Your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  February  2d,  1844. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

....  I  send  you  herewith,  a  curiosity;  it  is  the  translation  of  the 
Chinese  letter  which  my  teacher,  at  my  suggestion,  wrote  to  fa- 


272  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

ther.  Before  he  may  have  time  to  translate  it,  you  may  like  to 
see  it ;  so  to  gratify  you  I  send  a  translation  with  "  notes  and  an- 
notations." I  send  you  also  a  copy  in  Chinese,  which  is,  in  fact, 
more  correct  than  the  original,  and  is  also  pointed.  Observe  how 
very  correctly  the  former  are  used.  When  he  speaks  of  America, 
or  of  brother  Roberts,  or  of  me,  he  writes  the  characters  above  the 
line,  and  when  he  speaks  of  father,  he  puts  the  characters  two 
spaces  above  the  line,  while  on  the  contrary,  the  solitary  charac- 
ter by  which  he  designates  himself  is  written  small,  and  at  one 
side,  as  if  he  felt  himself  unworthy  to  appear  in  the  presence  of 
him  he  speaks  to.  ... 

Yours  affectionately,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


CHINESE  LETTER. 

WORTHY  FATHER. — EXALTED  MAN. — TRANQUILLITY — WHEN 
THE  LETTER  IS  OPENED. 

.My  family  lives  in  the  Southern  State,1  and  my  eyes  have  not 
seen  the  flowery  flag's2  exuberance.  I  dwell  in  the  central  nation, 
but  my  soul  has  eagerly  run  after  the  excellence  of  that  which  is 
beyond  the  seas.  Your  watches,  the  ingenuity  of  whose  motions  is 
like  the  Seuenke,3  by  their  goodness  have  robbed  the  heavens  of 
their  work.4  Your  cannon  equal  the  terribleness  of  the  thunder 
and  the  lightning :  thus  the  fame  of  your  far  distant  land  has 
been  transmitted  [to  the  Celestial  Empire.]  You  have  also  other 
things  of  such  rare  skill  and  admirable  art,  that  the  eye  is  not  able 
to  inspect  them,5  and  your  precious  jewels  and  divine  pear1".6  are 
such  that  words  with  difficulty  can  enumerate  them. 

Your  nephew7  unworthily  occupies  the  instructor's  seat.  Con- 
stantly near,  he  receives  excellent  information  from  your  honora- 
ble son :  without  any  claim  to  enjoy  this  learned  intimacy,  he  has 
often  heard  of  the  venerable  father's8  astonishing  attainments.  I 
have  desired  to  cross  the  sea,  and  ascend  the  hills ;  myself  to 
roam  over  the  ui.  urpassed  land.  One  reason  is,  that  I  might 
see  that  great  cou  dry's  magnificent  excellencies, — thus  opening 
my  eyes  on  prospects  unseen  before.9  Another  reason  is,  that  I 

1  "  Southern  State:"  formerly  a  designation  of  the  Provinces  of  Canton,  Fuhkeen, 
Kwangsi,  and  Houkwang.  .  The  writer  lives  in  Hway-Chow,  in  the  province  of 
Canton. 

"  Flowery  Flag,"  i.  e.,  American  ;  almost  the  only  name  by  which  we  are  known. 

3  "  The  Seuenke"  is  some  very  superior  astronomical  instrument,  perhaps  the  ar- 
millary  sphere. 

*  "Heaven's  work,"  is  to  regulate  the  seasons;  but  our  watches  are  so  good  that 
there  is  now  no  need  of  the  heavens ! 

s  Literally,  "  the  eye  cannot  receive  them :"  it  was  not  made  to  contemplate  such 
excellent  things. 

«  "  Precious  jewels  and  divine  pearls"  are  the  ornaments  of  our  houses,  &c. 

*  A  term  showing  my  teacher's  sense  of  his  inferiority. 

8  "The  venerable  father,"  to  wit  the  person  to  whom  he  is  writing. 

*  Like  the  countryman,  never  out  of -his  own  village,  I  have  seen  nothing.    I  wish 
to  see  the  wonderful  sights  of  your  country. 


LETTERS.  273 

might  hear  the  venerable  superior's  precious  jewels,10  thus  regula- 
ting my  own  heart  and  life.  But  it  is  not  in  my  power.  My 
family  is  poor  and  my  children  young,  and  I  cannot  take  the  Foo 
bird's  rapid  course.11  I  only  can  embrace  this  opportunity  and 
send  the  fishes  letter,12  to  perform  the  duty  of  asking  of  your 
health,  and  your  nightly  repose.13  Accordingly  the  carp  fish  mes- 
senger14 bears  the  inmost  desires  and  inmost  praises  of  my  heart. 
May  my  venerable  superior's  body  be^[strong]  as  the  hills  and  as 
the  mountains.  Yea,  may  my  venerable  superior's  life  be  [long 
and  glorious]  as  the  sun  and  as  the  moon. 

If  my  venerable  superior  in  his  condescending  compassion 
should  favor  me  with  a  single  letter,  calling  me  to  come,  then 
your  nephew  will  speedily  prepare  for  the  voyage,  and  go  with 
haste  that  he  may  respectfully  hear  your  important  commands. 

I  have  also  heard  that  several  of  your  excellent  sons  have  in 
regular  course  entered  the  Learned  Door,15  and  that  you  have  a 
son  who  daily  exercises  himself  in  the  Zeen  and  the  Fun.16  At  a 
future  day  they  will  certainly  possess  talents  to  rule  the  world, 
and  surpass  the  virtues  of  the  heroic  ranks. 

As  to  Lowrie,17  your  third  honorable  son,  of  books  he  has  read 
more  than  five  hundred  volumes;18  and  he  is  thoroughly  trained 
in  all  the  accomplishments  of  the  six  arts.19  His  name  dwells 
among  the  ranks  of  modest  piety,20  and  his  talents  surpass  even 
those  of  the  men  of  heaven.  Your  nephew's  abilities  are  mean 
and  his  learning  small ;  how  am  I  able  to  become  his  exemplar  ? 
But  the  cutter  of  grass  and  the  gatherer  of  stubble,  the  common 
laborer  and  the  pedler,  all  have  something  that  may  be  profitable 
to  the  "Holy  Sages  ;  and  your  nephe^r,  (unworthily  dwelling  at 
learnings  door,21)  therefore  did  not  excuse  himself  from  the  West- 


10  "Venerable  superior's  precious  jewels  :"  i.  e.,  the  instructions  and  remarks  of  th« 
person  to  whom  he  writes. 

11  Two  friends  being  at  a  great  distance,  one  of  them  collected  a  number  of  Poo 
birds,  and  by  their  means  came  from  Pekin  to  Canton  in  three  or  four  hours. 

12  A  wife,  being  separated  from  her  husband,  wrote  a  letter  and  gave  it  to  a  great 
fish,  which  carried  it  safely,  and  delivered  it  to  the  husband. 

13  Lite?ally,  ;c  to  ask  your  welfare,  and  to  ask  your  repose  II1  alluding  to  the  duty 
of  children,  in  the  morning  to  inquire  of  their  parents'  health,  and  in  the  evening  to  se« 
that  everything  is  comfortable  in  their  sleeping  apartments. 

l*  A  father  and  son  being  separated,  and  without  the  means  of  communication,  the 
son  dropped  a  letter  into  the  river,  and  a  carp  fish  carried  it  off.  The  carp  being 
caught,  was  bought  by  the  father,  who,  opening  it,  unexpectedly  found  his  son  s  letter. 

is  'To  enter  the  Learned  Door."  is  to  become  a  Sewtsae ;  equivalent  to  our  A.  B. 
He  refers  particularly  to  brother  Roberts. 

'«  The  Zeen  and  the  Fun  are  different  Chinese  books  :  he  refers  to  brother  Reuben, 
who  has  not  yet  entered  Learning's  Door. 

l?  In  this  rhapsody  you  will  hardly  recognize  W.  M.  L. 

18  I  told  him  once  that  in  all  my  life  I  had  read  probably  some  five  hundred  volumes, 
at  which  he  was  astonished. 

w  The  six  arts  are,  the  rules  of  Decorum,  Music,  Archery,  Driving  a  carriage,  Writ 
ing,  and  Arithmetic. 

M  '•  Modest  piety,"  i.  e.,  a  Keujin,  the  title  of  their  second  degree  of  literature ;  equiv- 
alent to  our  A.  M. 

*!  Being  a  Sewtsae. 

18 


274  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

ern  Seat,8'  that  thus  he  might  assist  Lowrie,  the  elder  born,83  the 
third  honorable  son,  in  his  noble  observations  and  inquiries.24 

With  seriousness  writing  this,  I  will  reverently  wait  to  hear  of 
your  golden  repose.  Also  I  beg  that  every  good  thing,  in  all 
variety,  may  beam  around  you  without  cessation  or  limit. 

Your  unworthy  nephew, 

Ching25  tsze  keun, 
Bows  the  headac  anf}  worships. 

Kwei  Mow27  Year,  Leg  month.28  From  Macao,  in  the  province 
of  Canton,  it  is  sent. 


Macao,  February  10th,  1844. 
REV.  JOHN  LLOYD — 

MY  DEAR  JOHN  : —  ...  How  it  made  my  heart  beat  to  think 
that  this  year  I  may  see  you  here  !  I  fell  into  a  reverie  just  now, 
and  thought  I  was  walking  along  the  beach  and  you  landed. 
What  a  shaking  of  hands  and  an  embracing  there  was  !  Then 
I  began  to  ask  you  questions  ;  but  though  you  talked  fast,  you 
did  not  talk  half  fast  enough  to  satisfy  me.  .  .  . 

Many  thanks  for  your  long,  kind  letter.  It  is  the  second  I  have 
received,  and  I  hope  I  may  have  another  soon.  I  am  glad  my 
journal  gave  you  so  much  pleasure. 

How  many  things  we  shall  have  to  say  to  each  other  when  you 
come.  Yet  sometimes  I  fear  we  shall  not  be  allowed  to  meet;  or 
if  we  meet,  shall  have  to  part  again ;  aryj  I  feel  as  though  I 
ought  not  to  hope  for  too  much.  How  often  we  are  disappointed 
in  the  very  place  where  we  expected  mo^t !  I  have  learned  some 
deeply  painful  lessons  since  I  came  here,  though  not  more  pain- 
ful than  needed. 

Why  do  you  give  way  so  much  to  melancholy  forebodings  ? 

"  Why  should  the  children  of  a  king 
Go  mourning  all  their  days  ?" 

Our  gracious  Father  has  now  led  you  along  for  more  than  nine 
years,  and  are  you  still  afraid  to  trust  him  ?  How  much  would  you 
and  I  have  given,  nine  years  ago,  to  be  told  we  should  persevere 
till  now  !  yet  here  we  are.  Thus  far  the  Lord  hath  led  us  on, 
and  will  not  he  whose  hand  has  ever  been  around  us  still  lead  us  ? 


*2  The  teacher  in  properly  arranged  schools  sits  at  the  western  side  of  the  table. 

*3  "  Seen  Sang"  is  literally  elder  born,  i.  e.,  more  honorable,  but  it  means  little 
more  than  "  Mr. 

34  "  He  uses  my  aid,  as  the  Emperor  condescends  occasionally  to  ask  the  members 
of  the  Hanlin,  or  Royal  College,  to  explain  some  matter." 

23  Cklng.  He  told  me  at  first  that  his  name  was  Hwang.  He  had  been  for  some 
reason  advised  to  take  that  name  ;  but  he  said  he  could  not  write  a  feigned  name  to 
the  venerable  person  to  whom  he  wss  writing. 

*•  Observe  how  small  "  show"  is  written.     "It  is  our  custom." 

*f  Kwei  mow  is  the  40th  year  of  the  cycle  of  sixty,  which  commenced  in  1804. 

»  Le5  month  is  the  12th  month,  this  being  the  last  month  of  the  present  year. 


LETTERS.  275 

Can  he  not  take  as  much  care  of  us  hereafter,  as  he  has  hitherto 
done  ?  I  know,  would  that  I  felt  it  more,  that  at  best  we  are 
very  unprofitable  servants ;  but  can  we  ever  repay  God  for  his 
mercies  ?  must  we  not  at  last  enter  heaven  in  the  righteousness 
of  another  ?  Oh  let  us  look  to  Christ,  in  whom  is  all  our  strength 
and  hope  ;  and  while  we  labor,  never  forget  that  we  are  accepted, 
not  in  our  own  works,  but  in  the  beloved. 

I  am  very  well,  very  busy,  and  commonly  very  happy.  Chinese 
is  beginning  to  look  inviting,  and  many  a  hearty  laugh  I  have 
with  my  Chinese  teacher.  He  does  not  speak  a  word  of  English, 
and  my  Chinese  is  broken  enough  ;  but  we  make  out  pretty  well 
on  a  good  many  points.  Do  not  be  afraid  of  this  language.  It  is 
hard  enough,  but  can  be  learned, 

Give  my  kindest  regards  to  Brown  and  Culbertson,  whom  I  ex- 
pect to  see  with  you  before  this  year  rolls  away.  The  sooner  you 
come  the  better,  for  I  suppose  I  must  be  unsettled  till  you  all 
come  out,  and  I  am  getting  tired  of  that ;  so  be  in  a  hurry. 

It  is  nearly  ten  o'clock.  My  hand  is  so  tired,  that  I  can  scarcely 
write  legibly,  and  if  I  had  five  hundred  things  to  say,  they  would 
have  to  stay  unsaid.  .  .  . 

Commending  you  to  God  and  the  word  of  his  grace,  which  is 
able  to  build  you  up  and  keep  you  until  the  appearing  of  our 
Lord,  I  am  as  ever  your  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  April  19th,  1844. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

....  I  am  very  well,  and  very  busy.  The  weeks  fly  away,  I 
scarcely  know  where ;  but  the  worst  is,  I  do  not  seem  to  be  doing 
much.  You  speak  of  my  laboring  so  directly  for  the  Redeemer's 
cause,  but  it  does  not  appear  so  here.  On  the  contrary,  it  seems 
to  me  as  though  I  were  shut  out  from  the  opportunity  of  direct 
exertions.  Perhaps  it  is  best  it  should  be  so,  that  I  may  have  an 
opportunity  of  tarrying  at  Jericho  till  my  beard  be  grown !  I 
would  be  glad  indeed  if  we  had  some  able  men  of  judgment  and 
experience  here.  But  do  not  think  that  I  am  unhappy  or  discon- 
tented, or  that  I  regret  coming,  because  I  thus  write,  for  I  never 
was  happier  in  my  life,  nor  better  satisfied  to  be  anything,  or 
nothing,  or  to  go  anywhere  that  the  Lord  may  choose  to  send 
me,  than  at  this  time.  I  do  long  sometimes  to  be  where  I  can 
speak  of  Christ  oftener ;  and  I  look  with  almost  envy  at  the  lot 
of  some  who  are  settled  over  churches :  but  I  would  not  change 
with  anybody,  for  the  providence  of  God  has  led  me  here  ;  and  I 
trust  will  lead  me  still.  My  only  anxiety  is  to  know  where  it  is 
the  will  of  providence  to  lead  me,  and  to  be  always  ready  to 
follow  that  will. 

What  has  become  of  that  old  and  very  black  negro,  who  used 
to  carry  straw  about  the  streets  in  New  York,  and  to  cry  it  in 


276  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

such  a  peculiarly  plaintive  tone  ?  There  is  a  Chinese  seller  of 
sugar-cane,  who  goes  about  here  at  night,  and  whom  I  hear  very 
often,  whose  voice,  in  the  distance,  sounds  just  like  the  old  negro's. 
A  great  deal  of  sugar-cane  is  eaten  by  the  people  here.  It  is 
brought  in  from  the  country  in  large  bundles,  and  sold  to  pedlers, 
who  cut  it  up  into  pieces  about  eight  or  nine  inches  long.  Many 
of  them  go  about  the  streets,  with  a  couple  of  boxes  slung  on  a 
pole,  and  carried  over  the  shoulder.  In  one  box  they  have  the 
sugar-cane,  and  in  the  other  a  small  furnace,  and  a  kettle  of  hot 
water,  in  which  they  steep  the  pieces  of  cane,  and  deliver  them 
hot  to  their  customers.  The  price  is  about  a  cash,  or  perhaps 
two,  for  a  stick.  .  .  . 

Affectionately  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  May  14th,  1844. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

....  My  letters  to  the  committee  will  have  shown  you  how 
often  I  am  embarrassed  and  at  a  loss  how  to  decide  the  various 
important  questions  occurring  here.  I  wish  you  would  come  out 
here  ;  you  will  find  enough  to  call  into  exercise  all  your  experi- 
ence. You  may  lay  the  foundations  of  this  mission  on  a  better 
basis  than  we  who  are  here  can  do.  My  wish  is  to  be  prudent 
and  thoughtful,  and  to  do  all  for  the  best ;  but  I  am  young  and 
inexperienced,  yet  I  have  more  experience  of  the  Chinese  than 
any  of  my  colleagues.  I  have  no  disposition  to  decline  respon- 
sibility, and  have  frequently  to  take  more  than  my  share.  What 
can  we  do?  There  are  things  which  must  be  done,  and  our 
fears  are  that  they  may  not  be  done  in  the  best  way.  You 
are  not  yet  sixty  years  old,  yet  Ricci  was  fifty  when  he  came  to 
China ;  and  you  have  had  ten  years  of  thought  about  this  coun- 
try, and  are  younger  in  constitution  than  most  men  of  the  same 
age.  Your  coming  might  do  more  good  than  for  twenty  boys  to 
go  abroad  before  their  constitutions  are  settled,  and  who  may  die 
before  they  come  to  their  prime.  It  often  seems  to  me  that  we 
are  commencing  at  the  top  instead  of  the  bottom,  when  we  lay 
light  and  untried  materials  in  the  foundation.  If  you  can  come 
for  life  so  much  the  better,  but  at  any  rate  come  for  five  years. 
Live  here  and  spy  out  the  land.  I  have  not  made  this  request  in 
a  spirit  of  levity,  but  after  a  good  deal  of  thought  and  prayer.  I 
know  how  important  your  presence  is  at  head-quarters,  and  I 
know  you  will  consider  the  matter  calmly.  God  will  direct  you ; 
and  for  myself,  I  will  remember  what  the  old  farmer  said,  "  I 
can't  go  with  you,  but  God  Almighty  will." 

My  teacher  was  reading  the  New  Testament  to-day,  when  he 
observed,  "  This  Jesus  must  have  been  a  very  benevolent  man. 
How  kind  it  was  in  him  to  heal  those  sick  people,  and  to  provide 
them  food  when  they  \»  ere  hungry  !  Truly  he  was  a  good  man." 


LETTERS.  277 

"  Yes,"  I  observed,  "  he  was  all  you  say,  and  far  more,  for  he  was 
God  as  well  as  man,  and  came  from  heaven  to  save  sinful  men, 
and  without  him  no  man  in  the  world  can  be  saved."  "  What !" 
said  he,  "  can  none  be  saved  in  China  without  him  ?"  "  No,  not 
one."  "  Do  you  believe  this  ?"  he  asked.  "  Yes,  most  certainly ; 
and  I  have  left  my  father  and  mother,  to  come  to  China  to  tell 
you  of  this  blessed  Saviour."  "And  how  long  has  this  been 
known  to  the  Western  nations?"  "O,  a  great  many  hundred 
years."  "  Why,  then,"  said  he,  "  was  not  this  knowledge  sent 
sooner  to  China  ?"....  — a  solemn  question  for  every  Christian.  . . . 
I  am  your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  August  18th,  1844. 
REV.  LEVI  JANVIER — 

Your  kind  letter  of  Sept.  29  has  been  on  hand  for  some  time. 
I  have  been  by  many  reasons  prevented  from  answering  it  sooner. 
It  came  when  I  was  much  more  than  ordinarily  busy.  I  had  to 
assist  Mr.  Cole  and  Dr.  McCartee  in  all  their  plans,  who  had  just 
come  out ;  and  the  time  required  in  assisting  Mr.  Cole  with  his 
printing  office  was  very  great.  For  several  months  I  gave  from 
eight  to  ten  hours  a  day,  and  sometimes  more,  to  my  Chinese 
studies,  and  to  preparing  Chinese  lists  of  characters  for  the  print- 
ing office.  I  have  also  had  to  preach  in  English  nearly  every  Sab 
bath,  and  as  I  have  not  learned  to  read  other  men's  sermons  with 
any  satisfaction,  it  took  much  time.to  prepare  for  this.  And  as  to 
correspondence,  you  know  how  much  of  it  must  be  done,  and  I 
have  all  along  had  my  full  share.  In  addition,  it  has  been  our 
warm  season  ever  since  your  letter  came.  There,  I  won't  enlarge  ; 
you  will  probably  not  be  very  angry  that  I  have  not  written  sooner, 
and  I  will  give  you  a  little  news,  such  as  we  have. 

You  may  have  heard  that  the  Siamese  mission  is  suspended. 
Mrs.  Buell's  health  failed  last  winter,  and  though  she  recovered 
somewhat,  yet  the  doctor  insisted  on  her  going  home.  Just  about 
then  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Way  came  out,  but  being  young,  they  did  not 
want  to  go  on  alone ;  and  they  came  to  the  conclusion,  all  things 
considered,  to  give  up  that  mission,  and  have  him  come  here,  while 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buell  went  home.  Mr.  Way  arrived  here  in  July, 
and  very  soon  after  started  for  Ningpo.  I  have  not  yet  heard  of 
his  arrival  at  that  place.  At  present  we  are  stationed  thus  :  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cole  and  the  printing  office  are  here.  This  is  only  a 
temporary  station,  and  we  are  quite  uncertain  how  long  it  shall 
be  retained.  We  do  almost  no  direct  missionary  work  here,  but 
occupy  ourselves  in  the  study  of  the  language,  and  getting  the 
press  going.  Mr.  C.  is  now  printing  an  edition  of  5000  copies  of 
Ephesians,  and  has  two  or  three  other  works  under  weigh.  So 
much  is  yet  to  be  done  to  perfect  the  type,  that  we  do  not  expect 
to  do  very  much  printing  for  several  months.  I  have  myself  al- 


278  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

most  no  doubi  of  the  success  of  the  plan  of  printing  with  metallic 
divisible  type,  and  its  finally  triumphing  over  all  others ;  but  it 
may  be  a  year  or  two  before  we  get  everything  perfectly  arranged. 
Mr.  C.  has  as  yet  done  little  in  learning  the  language,  and  I  can  not 
say  much  more  for  myself;  though  still  I  have  learned  enough  to 
talk  with  my  teacher  with  some  ease,  and  have  had  many  inter- 
esting discussions  with  him  on  religious  subjects.  We  have  read 
over  together  half  the  Gospel  of  Matthew,  and  he  has  been  at  times 
deeply  interested  in  it,  and  the  imperfect  explanations  I  have  been 
able  to  give  him.  It  is  my  purpose,  Deo  volente,  to  go  up  the 
coast  to  Ningpo  or  Chusan,  either  this  fall  or  next  spring,  with  a 
view  to  remain  there  permanently.  I  should  have  gone  long  ago, 
if  it  had  not  been  necessary  to  remain  here  and  assist  the  new- 
comers. 

At  Amoy  we  have  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hepburn,  who  are  much  pleased 
with  the  prospects  there.  It  is  a  very  interesting  field.  At  Ningpo 
we  have  Dr.  McCartee,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Way,  who  I  hope  are 
there  ere  now.  This  we  purpose  making  our  chief  mission  in 
China.  We  look  for  five  more  missionaries  this  year,  of  whom  one 
will  probably  remain  here,  either  temporarily  or  permanently. 
One  or  two  go  to  Amoy,  and  the  remainder  to  Ningpo.  Such 
are  our  plans  now ;  but  I  am  often  brought  to  think  that  man's 
heart  deviseth  his  way,  but  the  Lord  directeth  his  steps.  It  may 
be  that  all  our  plans  shall  be  frustrated.  But  these  things  give 
me  little  anxiety.  The  work  is  the  Lord's,  and  must  succeed,  and 
he  uses  all  these  instrumentalities  in  the  way  he  deems  best,  and 
certainly  in  the  wisest  way.  #  Behold  these  from  the  Land  of  Si- 
nim !"  It  is  a  very  pleasant  thing  to  have  a  special  prophecy  for 
the  land  in  which  one  labors,  and  whether  the  above  prophecy  re- 
fers to  the  conversion  of  the  pagan  Chinese,  or  to  the  return  of  the 
Chinese  Jews  to  the  promised  land,  (for  there  is  a  colony  of  Jews, 
that  has  subsisted  in  the  heart  of  China  since  B.  C.  258.)  it  is 
equally  cheering  to  the  heart  of  the  believer. 

....  Things  are  very  quiet  here.  The  drought  in  the  early 
part  of  the  season,  and  the  rains  in  the  after  part,  have  greatly 
injured  the  crop,  and  there  is  much  suffering  among  the  poor. 

....  My  own  health  continues  excellent,  and  I  hope  I  am  now 
pretty  well  acclimated ;  but  the  climate  at  Ningpo,  where  I  wish 
to  go,  is  not  so  favorable  as  that  of  Macao,  and  I  may  have  ano- 
ther seasoning  to  undergo.  But  sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the  evil 
thereof.  I  rejoice  heartily  that  I  came  here,  though  it  was  sadly 
against  my  own  will  at  first.  Poor  Africa  !  Sawyer,  you  will  have 
heard,  is  dead  !  If  I  had  not  felt  so  strongly  that  it  was  Provi- 
dence that  sent  me  here,  I  should  be  almost  tempted  to  offer  to  go 
there  yet ;  for  of  all  missionary  fields,  that  seems  to  be  the  one 
where  there  is  most  hope  of  a  speedy  and  abundant  harvest.  In 
India  you  are  met  by  a  system  of  caste,  and  here  we  are  held  off 
by  a  language  that  few  have  ever  mastered.  How  difficult  it  is 
to  maintain  one's  spirituality  amidst  the  dry  toils  of  dictionaries 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   A    MISSIONARY.  279 

and  grammars.  Yet  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  can  soften  all 
these,  and  I  can  truly  say,  that  amidst  every  obstacle  and  discour- 
agement, the  period  of  my  missionary  life  has  been  the  happiest. 
It  would  be  a  bitter  trial  to  me  now,  to  be  obliged  to  return  to  the 
United  States. 

Yours  in  Christian  affection, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


RECOLLECTIONS    OP   A   MISSIONARY. — NO.    I. 

—It  was  a  very  hot  day  in  August,  184-,  and  I  was  lying  on 
a  couch,  suffering  from  debility  induced  by  the  heat  of  a  tropical 
summer.  While  thus  reclining,  the  physician  of  the  place,  a  seri- 
ous and  moral  man,  but  at  that  time  making  no  profession  of 
piety,  called  to  see  me.  He  said  he  had  a  patient  recently  brought 
from  a  neighboring  city,  and  dangerously  ill  of  a  disease  at  that 
time  prevailing,  who  expressed  a  wish  to  see  an  evangelical  cler- 
gyman ;  and  that  he,  (the  physician.)  would  be  much  pleased  if  I 
would  call  on  him.  I  went  immediately,  and  on  being  shown 
into  the  sick  room,  found  a  young  looking  man,  who  held  out  his 
hand  and  expressed  much  gratification  that  I  had  called.  His 
Bible  was  lying  on  a  chair  at  his  bedside,  and  it  was  not  many 
minutes  before  he  had  told  me  fully  and  frankly  his  state  and  feel- 
ings. He  was  the  son  of  a  pious  man,  who  had  done  much  for 
the  cause  of  missions  in  his  own  land.  He  himself  had  united 
with  the  Church  in  his  youth,  anirfor  several  years  maintained  a 
fair  character,  and  thought  himself  a  Christian.  Of  late  how- 
ever, and  especially  since  coming  to  this  heathen  land,  he  had 
greatly  backslidden,  and  as  he  said,  had  so  far  forgotten  his  pro- 
fession as  to  fall  into  open  sin.  While  in  this  state  he  was  at- 
tacked with  a  disease  which  had  already  proved  fatal  to  several 
persons  ;  and  though  there  was  at  first  nothing  very  alarming  in 
his  own  case,  yet  it  had  aroused  him  to  think  on  his  ways,  and 
the  Spirit  of  God  seemed  to  have  brought  his  sins  strongly  to  his 
remembrance. 

When  I  saw  him  he  was  in  great  distress,  fearing  lest  he  had 
committed  the  unpardonable  sin,  and  that  there  could  be  no  hope 
for  him.  A  few  minutes'  conversation  showed  that  the  instruc- 
tions of  his  excellent  father  had  sunk  deep  into  his  heart,  and  that 
he  was  tolerably  well  acquainted  with  the  doctrines  of  religion, 
so  that  it  was  an  easy  and  a  pleasant  duty  to  give  him  the  in- 
structions his  case  required.  Doubtless  there  are  those  in  our 
days  who  commit  a  sin  for  which  there  is  no  repentance,  and  for 
which  we  are  not  commanded  to  pray  ;  but  there  was  no  evidence 
that  such  was  his  case,  and  on  this  point  his  mind  was  relieved. 
He  feared,  however,  that  he  was  not  one  of  the  elect, — could  there 
be  hope  for  him?  I  told  him  my  belief  in  the  doctrine  of  election 
was  as  firm  as  my  belief  in  my  own  existence,  but  God's  secret 


280  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

decrees  were  not  the  rule  of  our  faith  and  practice.  Repent  and 
believe,  and  be  saved  ;  let  him  make  his  calling  sure,  and  the 
question  of  his  election  need  not  trouble  his  mind.  To  this  he 
freely  assented,  and  then  .with  tears  in  his  eyes,  and  the  utmost 
earnestness,  asked  if  I  thought  it  possible  God  could  or  would  for- 
give so  vile  a  backslider  as  himself.  Taking  up  his  Bible,  I 
opened  it  at  the  beautiful  passage  in  the  fourteenth  chapter  of 
Hosea  :  "Take  with  you  words  and  turn  unto  the  Lord:  say 
unto  him,  Take  away  all  iniquity,  and  receive  us  graciously,  &c.," 
and  read  and  explained  the  whole  chapter.  Never  did  it  appea* 
so  rich  and  precious  to  my  own  soul,  and  the  sick  man  heard  i«< 
with  entranced  attention.  When  it  was  finished,  he  exclaimed, 
"  What  precious  words  those  are  !  Will  you  not  pray  with  me?" 
After  prayer,  and  a  little  further  conversation,  I  left  him,  promis- 
ing to  see  him  again  in  the  evening. 

About  sunset  I  called  again,  and  found  his  disorder  making 
rapid  progress,  so  that  occasionally  he  seemed  to  be  wandering  in 
mind.  But  his  thoughts  were  on  his  soul's  concerns,  and  towards 
Christ ;  his  mind  was  calmer  than  when  I  first  saw  him,  and 
though  he  expressed  much  fear  of  death,  yet  he  seemed  to  appre- 
•  hend  fully  that  the  grace  of  Christ  was  his  only  refuge,  and  I 
could  not  but  hope  that  his  faith  was  fixed  on  the  Saviour ;  and 
with  a  mind  much  lightened  in  regard  to  him,  I  returned  to  my 
room.  The  exposure  and  exertions  of  the  day  in  my  weak  state 
were  too  much  for  me,  and  a  sleepless  night  left  me  with  but  little 
strength  in  the  morning.  As  the'  day  proved  stormy,  it  seemed 
imprudent  to  venture  out,  andjKcordingly  I  wrote  a  note  to  the 
physician,  requesting  him  to  imorm  me  if  his  patient  should  wish 
for  me,  as  otherwise  I  could  scarcely  leave  the  house.  The  kind- 
hearted  physician  himself  had  some  conversation  with  him,  and 
finding  him  in  the  intervals  of  his  delirium,  to  be  much  more 
peaceful,  and  apparently  hopeful,  did  not  send  for  me.  He  died 
in  the  night,  and  when  I  called  early  the  next  morning  I  found 
him  laid  out,  with  an  expression  of  countenance  like  one  who  had 
gone  in  peace. 

Among  strangers,  we  buried  him  in  a  stranger's  grave ;  for  ex- 
cepting the  physician  and  myself,  there  were  none  in  the  place 
who  knew  him.  He  had  but  recently  arrived  in  this  country,  and 
as  we  found  in  a  day  or  two  after,  his  partner  died  of  the  same 
disease  on  the  same  day. 

Soon  after  his  death  I  wrote  to  his  mother  his.  father  being 
dead  an  account  of  his  last  moments,  and  of  the  hope  I  had  that 
"  the  root  of  the  matter  was  found  in  him."  Several  months 
passed  away,  and  amidst  other  events  the  above  was  almost  for- 
gotten, when  one  day  a  small  package  from  a  distant  land  came 
into  my  hands.  It  contained  a  beautiful  copy  of  the  memoir  of 
Mr.  Cheyne,  and  a  note  breathing  "  the  most  heartfelt  gratitude," 
and  the  assurance  of  "  earnest  and  constant  prayer  for  my  wel- 
fere."  For  some  reason  unknown  to  me,  the  writer  wished  to  be 


RECOLLECTIONS    OP   A   MISSIONARY.  281 

uwknown ;  but  I  could  not  avoid  associating  her,  (for  it,  was  a 
lady's  hand,)  with  the  person  spoken  of  above.  Is  it  not  true  that 
bread  cast  upon  the  waters  is  found  after  many  days — and  that 
often  in  a  way  not  anticipated  1  The  parents  of  that  young  man 
"  bestowed  much  labor"  in  forwarding  the  cause  of  missions,  and 
the  dying  hours  of  their  son  were  cheered  and  consoled  in  a  strange 
land  by  a  missionary  of  a  different  country,  and  a  different  de- 
nomination. I  went  in  weakness  to  visit  him,  without  a  thought 
of  reward,  but  how  often  has  the  thought  cheered  me  since,  that 
in  a  distant  land  there  is  one  or  more  whom  I  have  never  seen, 
whose  fervent  prayers  are  offered  up  on  my  behalf. 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A    MISSIONARY. NO.  II. 

In  December,  184-,  I  was  requested  to  visit  a  dying  ship  captain. 
This  was  Saturday  evening.  I  went  immediately,  and  on  enter- 
ing the  house  where  he  lay,  found  an  elderly  man  in  the  last 
stages  of  consumption.  He  was  a  pious  man,  and  amidst  all  the 
temptations  and  annoyances  to  which  such  persons  in  his  situa- 
tion are  exposed,  had  in  good  measure  kept  himself  free  from  re-  • 
proach,  and  had  made  his  ship  a  house  of  God  upon  the  sea.  Of 
late  he  had  been  quite  unwell,  and  was  brought  ashore  to  the 
house  of  the  consignee  of  his  ship,  where  it  is  to  be  feared  there 
was  little  care  or  respect  for  religion.  Being  a  stranger,  he  did 
not  know  there  were  any  missionaries  in  the  place,  and  it  was  not 
till  this  day  that  he  was  informa^that  there  were.  One  of  the 
boys  from  his  ship  was  attending^im  with  the  faithfulness  of  a 
son  ;  and  finding  that  he  was  drawing  near  his  end,  informed  him 
that  I  was  residing  not  far  off,  and  had  me  sent  for. 

He  was  not  able  to  bear  much  conversation :  but  the  little  I 
had  was  satisfactory,  and  he  appeared  exceedingly  grateful  to 
have  met  a  fellow-believer  to  speak  with  him  in  his  last  hours. 
After  prayer  I  left  him,  promising  to  call  again.  The  next  after- 
noon, while  administering  the  Lord's  Supper  to  the  little  band  of 
fellow-laborers,  and  fellow-Christians  in  that  place,  I  received  a 
hasty  summons  to  see  him.  On  going  to  the  house,  I  found  the 
yard  just  before  his  window  filled  with  native  workmen,  in  the 
employ  of  the  Christian  owner  of  the  house,  busily  packing  and 
nailing  boxes  for  a  ship's  cargo  !  Passing  through  the  crowd,  so 
unseemly  on  such  day,  and  in  such  a  place,  I  went  to  the  sick 
man's  room,  but  found  him  nearly  speechless.  He  knew  me, 
grasped  me  by  the  hand,  arid  to  my  inquiries  as  to  the  state  of 
his  soul,  gave  me  to  understand  though  more  by  looks  than  by 
words,  that  all  was  well  within.  After  a  short  prayer  he  fell  into 
a  doze,  from  which  he  did  not  again  return  to  consciousness,  and 
in  a  few  hours  his  spirit  departed.  To  him  I  have  no  reason  to 
doubt  heaven  was  as  near  even  in  that  land  of  strangers  and 
heathenism  as  though  he  had  died  among  his  friends.  The  next 


282  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

day  he  was  buried.  A  part  of  the  ship's  crew,  one  or  two  of  the 
merchants  of  the  place,  and  myself,  were  the  only  spectators  ;  and 
few  or  none  of  those  who  now  read  the  inscription  over  his  tombr 
in  the  field  that  was  "  bought  to  bury  strangers  in,"  have  any 
knowledge  of  the  person  who  sleeps  beneath.  Many  such  graves 
are  there,  for  many  have  come  from  far  distant  lands  to  rest 
there. 

"He  that  watereth  others  shall  be  watered  himself;"  and  in  the 
pleasure  that  this  event  afforded  me,  I  found  the  first  mitigation 
of  one  of  the  greatest  sorrows  that  a  gracious  God  has  ever  been 
pleased  to  lay  upon  rne. 

At  another  time  I  was  called  to  visit  another  ship  captain,  but 
my  memory  recalls  few  of  the  circumstances  connected  with  the 
occasion,  except  the  following :  After  his  decease,  at  his  request,  a 
sum  of  money,  amounting  to  about  twenty  dollars,  was  put  into 
my  hands  for  any  charitable  purpose  to  which  I  might  choose  to 
apply  it.  On  the  very  day  it  was  received,  a  poor  heathen  woman, 
one  of  whose  sons  had  been  of  some  service  to  a  fellow-missionary, 
came  to  me  to  beg  for  assistance  in  the  case  of  another  son,  who 
was  afflicted  with  the  leprosy.  She  was  in  great  distress  :  for  the 
neighbors,  apprehensive  of  catching  the  disease,  had  told  her  she 
must  either  place  him  in  the  hospital  for  such  cases,  or  else  leave 
her  house,  and  seek  another  abode;  She  was  poor,  and  knew  not 
where  else  to  find  a  house,  and  to  place  him  in  the  hospital  re- 
quired an  admission  fee  of  twenty  dollars,  a  sum  she  could  not 
hope  to  borrow,  nor  to  earn  for  many  months.  It  seemed  a  provi- 
dence: the  money  just  sent  aas  at  once  placed  at  her  disposal, 
and  with  a  light  heart  she  wim  on  her  way  rejoicing. 

But  a  few  weeks  before  leaving  the  place  where  I  had  been  re- 
siding for  more  than  two  years,  I  was  requested  to  visit  another 
ship  captain,  who  had  been  brought  ashore  with  a  dangerous  ill- 
ness, and  was  supposed  to  be  near  his  end.  Unlike  the  one  men- 
tioned in  the  first  part  of  this  paper,  the  owner  of  this  house  was 
seriously  disposed,  and  had  not  only  spoken  faithfully  to  the  sick 
man  himself,  but  induced  him  to  send  for  a  clergyman.  On  being 
shown  into  his  room,  he  seemed  very  glad  to  see  me ;  but  1  was 
painfully  impressed  with  the  eagerness  he  expressed  for  "comfort." 
He  was  a  well-educated,  intelligent  man,  and  had  thought  some 
for  himself;  but  I  was  sorry  to  find,  was  quite  skeptically  disposed. 
He  could  not  believe  that  mankind  were  so  bad  as  clergymen 
commonly  thought  they  were.  He  could  scarcely  believe  that  the 
Son  of  God  had  come  down  to  suffer  for  the  inhabitants  of  this 
petty  world,  which  was,  in  the  greatness  of  the  universe,  "  but  as 
a  single  leaf  in  the  forest."  Surprised  at  these  remarks,  I  asked 
if  he  were  not  a  believer  in  revelation.  "  Oh  yes,"  said  he ;  "  yes, 
but  sometimes  these  thoughts  will  come  into  my  mind."  I  be- 
sought him  to  exchange  these  thoughts  for  others  better  suited  to 
his  situation,  and  after  some  further  conversation  and  prayer,  left 
him  with  my  mind  ill  at  ease  ;  for  all  his  anxieties  seemed  to  be  for 


LETTERS.  283 

comfort,  and  none  for  pardon  and  reconciliation  with  God.  Yet 
he  professed  much  gratitude,  and  begged  me  to  call  again.  I  did 
so  in  a  day  or  two,  and  found  his  disorder  had  taken  a  favorable 
turn,  and  with  it  his  seriousness  had  nearly  gone.  It  was  difficult 
to  induce  him  to  speak  of  his  soul ;  but  having  no  reason  to  hope 
that  he  would  recover,  as  his  physician  thought  the  disease  would 
soon  return,  I  endeavored  as  faithfully  as  possible  to  warn  him  of 
his  state  and  prospects.  He  listened  politely,  but  with  little  inter- 
est, until  a  fit  of  coughing  seized  him,  and  I  thought  it  best  not 
to  say  more.  I  called  once  or  twice  after,  but  he  declined  seeing 
me,  and  the  gentleman  of  the  house  with  whom  he  was  staying, 
told  me  that  as  soon  as  he  began  to  think  himself  getting  better, 
his  thoughts  returned  to  earthly  things.  Poor  man  !  A  few  days 
after  this,  he  embarked  in  a  vessel  for  his  native  land,  and  the 
next  notice  I  had  of  him  was,  that  he  died  soon  after  getting  out 
to  sea,  and  was  buried  in  the  ocean. 


Macao,  December  27th,  1844. 
REV.  JOHN  M.  LOWRIE — 

MY  DEAR  COUSIN  : — Since  April,  1843,  I  have  preached  in 
English,  once  a  week,  to  a  small  congregation  of  English  and 
Americans,  some  of  whom  are  pious.  It  is  the  custom  of  most  of 
the  missionaries  just  to  take  printed  sermons  and  read  them  off, 
which  is  well  known  by  the  people.  .  I  have  done  so  myself  sev- 
eral times,  but  never  liked  the  plan,  nor  felt  comfortable  in  adopt- 
ing it.  As  the  people  who  atten^are  very  intelligent,  I  found  it 
required  a  good  deal  of  care  to  prepare  sermons  that  would  be  pro- 
fitable ;  and  that  I  could  give  most  instruction  in  the  fewest 
words,  and  with  least  labor  to  myself,  by  writing  out  my  sermons. 
I  have  done  this  commonly,  and  have  now  nearly  fifty  written 
discourses,  besides  several  skeletons.  As  I  lost  all  my  written 
sermons  when  shipwrecked,  the  preparation  of  these  has  been  at- 
tended with  some  degree  of  labor,  and  takes  as  much  time  as  I 
can  at  present  afford  to  give.  I  felt,  indeed,  some  scruple  about 
giving  so  much  time  to  a  work  not  directly  the  one  for  which  I 
came  here,  but  felt  satisfied  about  it  on  considering  that  I  am  still 
young,  and  the  labor  and  study  of  preparing  sermons  would  be 
of  essential  benefit  to  me  ;  and  1  have  found  it  so.  Preaching  is 
a  very  delightful  work,  and  I  have  only  regretted  that  I  could  not 
give  more  time  to  it.  ... 

It  was  a  great  disappointment  to  Lloyd  and  myself  not  to  be 
together,  but  it  seemed  to  be  clearly  the  will  of  Providence  that 
we  should  deny  ourselves  that  gratification,  and  it  is  quite  uncer- 
tain whether  we  shall  ever  see  each  other  again.  As  it  was,  we 
could  be  together  less  than  two  weeks,  and  in  that  time  I  did  not 
learn  half  as  much  as  I  wanted.  Hugh  Brown,  too,  will  go  to 
the  same  station  with  Lloyd,  and  as  Happer  will  be  at  Hong  Kong, 


284  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

I  shall  be  "  a  stranger  in  the  earth."     So  be  it !     It  is  good  to  feel 

that  this  is  not  our  home,  nor  our  rest 

I  am  your  affectionate  cousin, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Macao,  December  28th,  1844. 
REV.  JAMES  MONTGOMERY— 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER: — Your  letter  of  January  15th,  which 
came  to  hand  August  6th,  gave  me  great  pleasure,  for  it  told  me 
that  though  you  had  not  written,  your  heart  was  still  unchanged. 
I  observed  one  thing  in  it,  which  has  struck  me  in  a  number  of 
other  letters  I  have  received.  Speaking  of  my  shipwreck,  you  re- 
mark, that  you  could  scarce  help  thinking  that  I  was  preserved 
for  some  great  end  in  this  part  of  the  world.  The  same  idea  has 
been  expressed  to  me  by  several  other  of  my  correspondents,  and 
I  can  sometimes  scarcely  avoid  thinking  it  may  be  so ;  and  yet 
the  thought  of  it  almost  makes  me  tremble,  for  what  a  responsi- 
bility does  it  throw  upon  me,  and  what  a  foreshadowing,  so  to 
speak,  is  there  in  such  an  expectation  of  great  trials  and  conflicts  ? 
It  is  through  much  tribulation  we  must  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of  heaven.  It  is  in  the  way  of  "  much  tribulation"  that  great  good 
is  commonly  effected;  and  if  I  am  to  be  the  instrument  of  good 
here,  I  cannot  expect  to  avoid  trials  and  sorrows,  greater  perhaps 
by  far  than  any  that  have  y,et  come  upon  me.  I  do  not  murmur 
at  this.  If  I  know  my  own  heart,  I  do  not  wish  to  shrink  from 
any  cross  or  any  burden  God  se^ps  good  or  needful  to  lay  upon  me  ; 
but  oh  !  how  much  do  I  need  grace,  yea,  "  more  grace,"  to  fit  me 
for  the  trials  of  my  work  here.  Pray  for  me,  that  when  having 
done  all  and  suffered  all,  I  may  stand  accepted  in  the  merits  of 
Jesus  Christ.  I  have  had  some  little  experience  of  tribulation 
since  leaving  the  United  States.  I  have  known  what  it  is  to  bear 
with  long  delays  and  hopes  deferred,  making  the  heart  sick.  I 
have  gone  through  perils  on  the  deep,  and  have  been  tried  with 
the  perversities  and  waywardness  of  some  who  had  made  the 
warmest  professions  of  attachment. 

Whither  do  all  these  things  tend  ?  Is  the  trial  over  yet,  or  am 
I  to  go  through  the  furnace  again  ?  Dear  Brother,  I  confess  my 
heart  sometimes  trembles  when  I  ask  myself  these  questions.  For 
after  all  this  sifting,  and  searching,  and  refining,  I  still  find  so 
much  of  dross  and  impurity,  that  I  sometimes  think  the'furnace 
must  be  made  "  one  seven  times  hotter,"  before  I  am  fit  for  my 
work.  If  I  have  a  work  to  do  here,  God  will  certainly  prepare  me 
for  it.  I  do  not  wish  to  shrink  from  the  preparation,  but  I  do  feel 
that  without  more  grace  I  cannot  endure  it.  Yet  I  dare  not  give 
way  to  fear.  Hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped  me.  In  every  trial 
hitherto,  grace  has  been  sufficient,  and  shall  I  not  trust  him  for 
the  future  ?  And  when  I  look  back  I  am  obliged  to  say,  that  not- 
withstanding all  the  sorrows  I  have  felt  since  leaving  the  United 


LETTERS.  285 

States,  no  period  of  my  life  has  been  so  happy  as  the  last  three 
years.  As  the  sufferings  have  abounded,  so  have  the  consolations ; 
and  were  it  not  for  some  undefined  anticipations  of  the  future,  I 
should  be  ashamed  to  speak  of  my  sorrows  that  are  past  at  all.  ... 
Surely  it  is  a  wonder  of  sovereign  grace,  that  God  saves  any  of 
such  a  sinful  race  as  ours  is  !  We  fight  against  him,  and  provoke 
him,  even  when  he  has  shown  us  his  love. 

We  have  now  a  pretty  large  mission  here,  and  I  trust  will  soon 
be  settled  and  all  at  work.  Cannot  you  come  1  I  should  rejoice 
to  have  you  with  me  ;  and  I  can  assure  you  that  I  do  not  think 
your  age  a  sufficient  reason  for  not  coming,  if  you  have  no  other. 
Farewell,  pray  for  me,  and  believe  me, 

Ever  yours,  in  Christian  bonds, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

1845. 

DIFFERENT   MISSIONS   ESTABLISHED — LEAVES   MACAO — VOYAGE   UP   THE   COAST 
— NINGPO — CHINESE    WRITTEN  AND   SPOKEN   LANGUAGES. 

DURING  this  year  the  missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
China  began  to  assume  a  more  settled  form.  In  the  first  part  of 
the  year,  the  missionaries  had  all  reached  their  respective  stations, 
and  commenced  their  work  under  favorable  and  encouraging  cir- 
cumstances. In  April,  Messrs.  Culbertson  and  Lowrie  arrived  at 
Ningpo,  and  Mr.  Loomis  at  Tinghai,  on  the  island  of  Chusan  ; 
and  in  July  the  printing-press  was  removed  to  Ningpo.  In  May, 
the  Rev.  H.  A.  Brown  reached  Amoy.  During  the  year,  a  boys' 
boarding-school  was  commenced  at  Macao,  and  another  at  Ningpo, 
under  circumstances  of  much  promise.  During  the  summer,  their 
number  was  lessened  by  the  return  home  of  Dr.  Hepburn  and  his 
wife,  on  account  of  the  failure  of  Mrs.  Hepburn's  health.  This 
was  a  great  trial  to  the  mission  at  Amoy.  Dr.  Hepburn  had  ac- 
quired a  knowledge  of  the  Chinese  language,  and  was  greatly 
esteemed  both  by  the  native  population  and  foreign  residents. 

The  missionary  labors  of  the  year  at  Ningpo,  the  description  of 
the  country,  and  the  general  aspects  of  this  new  field  of  labor  are 
so  fully  related  in  the  letters  and  journals  of  this  period,  that  noth- 
ing further  need  be  added  here. 

In  connection  with  the  account  of  the  missions  in  China,  it  is 
proper  to  notice  the  Edict  of  the  Emperor,  dated  23th  December, 
1844,  giving  full  toleration  for  the  exercises  of  the  Christian  re- 
ligion. This  remarkable  document  is  one  of  the  great  events  of 
the  age.  It  was  granted  at  the  request  of  M.  Lagrene,  the  French 
ambassador,  on  a  memorial  to  the  Emperor,  from  Keying,  the 
Imperial  Commissioner.  It  gives  full  toleration  to  all  who  profess 
the  religion  of  Tien  Chu,  or  the  Lord  of  Heaven.  This  is  the 
term  used  by  the  Roman  Catholic  missionaries  to  denote  the 
Christian  religion,  and  when  the  edict  was  issued,  it  was  consid- 


LETTERS.  287 

ered  sufficiently  comprehensive  to  embrace  the  Christian  religion 
as  professed  by  Protestants. 

By  later  proceedings  of  the  civil  authorities,  this  construction 
appeared  to  be  erroneous.  On  the  2d  of  November,  1845,  procla- 
mations were  issued  by  the  authority  of  the  Imperial  Commis- 
sioner, and  the  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Canton,  stating  "  that  the 
religion  of  the  Lord  of  Heaven  consists  in  periodically  assembling 
for  unitedly  worshipping  the  Lord  of  Heaven,  in  respecting  and 
venerating  the  cross,  with  pictures  and  images,  as  well  as  in  read- 
ing aloud  the  works  of  said  religion." 

By  this  explanation  Protestants  were  excluded  from  the  benefits 
of  the  edict  of  toleration,  and  much  dissatisfaction  was  felt  and 
expressed  at  this  restriction.  But  this  feeling  was  of  short  dura- 
tion. On  the  22d  of  December,  1845,  Keying,  the  Imperial  Com- 
missioner, in  a  letter  to  the  Consul  of  the  United  States,  at  Canton, 
states,  "  that  some  local  magistrates  had  made  improper  seizures, 
taking  and  destroying  crosses,  pictures,  and  images,  and  after 
deliberation  it  was  agreed  that  these  might  be  reverenced.  Orig- 
inally, I  did  not  know  that  there  were  among  the  nations  tb^se 
differences  in  their  religious  practices.  Now,  with  regard  to  the 
religion  of  the  Lord  of  Heaven,  no  matter  whether  the  crosses, 
pictures,  and  images,  be  reverenced  or  not  reverenced,  all  who, 
acting  well,  practice  it,  ought  to  be  held  blameless.  All  the  great 
western  nations  being  placed  on  an  equal  footing,  only  let  them 
acting  well  practice  their  religion,  and  China  will  in  no  way  pro- 
hibit or  impede  their  so  doing.  Whether  their  customs  be  alike 
or  unlike,  certainly  it  is  right  that  there  should  be  no  distinction, 
and  no  obstruction." 

Thus  did  this  subject  come  three  times  before  the  civil  authori- 
ties of  China,  and  the  important  distinction  between  Protestants 
and  Roman  Catholics  was  thus  brought  to  their  notice ;  and  much 
to  the  credit  of  the  Chinese  government,  all  are  equally  protected. 


Hong  Kong,  February  12th,  1845. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

Your  very  welcome  letter  of  August  30th,  came  to  hand  last 
Sabbath,  being  the  first  I  have  received  from  you  for  four  months, 
the  longest  period  of  not  hearing,  since  my  first  letters  reached  me. 
It  does  begin  to  appear  as  if  years  had  elapsed  since  I  saw  you. 
Letters  written  home  and  answers  received,  answers  written  back, 
and  replies  to  those  answers  received,  and  soon  I  shall  have  re- 
plies to  these  last. 


288  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

Having  finished  all  I  had  to  do  in  Macao.  I  left  that  place  Jan- 
uary 21st,  and  came  here  to  take  passage  for  Chusan.  I  expect 
to  have  as  a  fellow-passenger,  the  Rev.  T.  McClatchie,  missionary 
of  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  of  whom  I  have  formed  a  very 
good  opinion.  The  Rev.  George  Smith,  his  colleague,  is  in  very 
poor  health,  and  I  fear  can  do  no  more  than  visit  the  different 
ports,  and  then  return  to  England.  I  shall  regret  this  exceeding- 
ly, for  I  have  conceived  a  very  high  opinion  of  him.  The  connec- 
tion of  these  excellent  men  with  the  Established  Church  of  Eng- 
land gives  them  much  influence  with  the  people  from  England  in 
China ;  but  at  the  same  time  it  requires  them  to  be  doubly  cautious 
not  to  give  any  ground  of  complaint  against  themselves.  On  this 
subject,  however,  I  feel  daily  that  we  have  reason  for  gratitude  in 
our  American  citizenship,  and  the  perfect  freedom  of  the  Church 
from  all  connection  with  the  State.  It  is  not  by  might  nor  by 
power,  but  by  God's  Spirit  that  our  work  is  to  be  done.  May  God 
grant  the  time  soon  to  come  when  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  shall 
become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

I  have  never  heard  you  express  any  opinion  about  the  Millena- 
rian  scheme.  But  a  remark  you  once  made,  "  I  think  the  Millen- 
ium will  be  only  a  great  revival  of  religion,"  leads  me  to  suppose 
either  that  you  had  not  then  examined  it,  or  thought  unfavorably 
of  it.  I  have  paid  a  good  deal  of  attention  to  it  of  late,  and  with- 
out being  able  to  say  I  am  convinced,  I  must  say  that  my  former 
opinions  are  greatly  shaken.  That  the  Jews  will  be  restored  to 
their  own  country  I  firmly  believe. 

I  wish  you  would  examine  the  whole  subject  and  let  me  know 
what  you  think  of  it.  The  common  opinion  against  this  view  is, 
that  it  cuts  the  sinews  of  missionary  effort.  I  do  not  feel  this. 
Several  of  the  missionaries  in  China  are  Millenarians ;  and  look- 
ing at  it  as  I  do,  I  feel  that  if  I  could  think  it  true,  it  would  give 
me  an  additiqnal  inducement  to  the  great  work  of  preaching  the 
Gospel,  and  additional  hopes  of  immediate  success. 

February  14.  Messrs.  Loomis  and  Culbertson  are  going  in  the 
Isabella  Ann,  to  sail  the  19th.  I  have  taken  passage  in  the 
Rob  Roy,  to  sail  the  16th.  I  have  been  detained  here  a  long 
time,  and  it  is  important  that  I  go  up  north  as  soon  as  possible. 
I  trust  it  will  be  the  last  voyage  I  may  have  to  take  for  many 
years  to  come.  I  have  no  fears  as  to  the  result  of  it,  though 
I  confess  I  should  not  be  surprised  if  I  were  landed  in  Japan. 
"Man's  heart  deviseth  his  way,  but  the  Lord  directeth  his  steps." 

Your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


THE    VOYAGE    UP    THE    COAST. 

Macao,  January  19th,  1845. 

It  is  three  years  to-day  since  I  left  my  father's  house.     Many 
changes  have  come  over  me  since  then  ;  trials  and  afflictions  have 


JOURNAL.  289 

befallen  me,  but  out  of  them  all  the  Lord  hath  delivered  me,  and 
having  obtained  help  of  him  I  continue  to  this  day.  For  nearly 
two  years  I  have  been  preaching  to  a  small  congregation  of 
English  and  Americans,  once  every  Sabbath.  To-day  I  preached 
my  last  sermon  to  them,  and  bade  them  farewell.  How  many  of 
them  shall  I  meet  in  peace  at  the  great  day  of  reckoning?  As  far 
as  they  are  concerned  at  least,  I  feel  myself  pure  from  their  blood. 
I  have  not  shunned  to  declare  unto  them  the  whole  counsel  of 
God.  And  to  some  at  least  it  has  been  a  blessing ;  would  that 
the  same  could  be  said  of  all ! 

January  21st,  1845.  I  bade  farewell  to  Macao,  and  turned  my 
face  to  the  north.  It  was  not  without  apprehensions  that  I  con- 
templated another  voyage,  and  that  against  the  strong  north-east 
monsoon,  for  nearly  every  voyage  I  have  made  since  arriving  in 
China  has  been  attended  with  disaster,  and  not  a  few  of  my  friends 
shook  their  heads  ominously  when  I  spoke  of  tempting  the  sea 
again.  'Yet  the  path  of  duty  seemed  clear.  Nothing  further  of 
any  consequence  remained  for  me  to  do  in  Macao,  and  it  was  de- 
sirable on  several  accounts,  that  I  should  as  speedily  as  possible 
proceed  to  Ningpo.  Committing  my  way,  therefore,  to  that  God 
who  had  heretofore  led  me,  even  through  the  deep  waters,  and 
preserved  me  in  the  most  imminent  perils,  and  led  me  by  paths 
that  I  knew  not,  I  left  Macao,  a  place  that  had  become  endeared 
to  me  by  many  associations  and  recollections. 

It  was  far  from  my  intention  to  have  spent  so  long  a  time  in 
Macao ;  but  various  intimations  of  Providence  had  kept  me  there 
nearly  two  years  and  a  half.  How  many  events  have  occurred  in 
that  time  !  When  I  arrived,  there  was  war  between  England 
and  China,  and  most  men  thought  it  would  be  of  long  continu- 
ance. Yet  in  a  few  months  the  war  was  ended,  a  treaty  of  peace 
was  negotiated,  and  five  ports  in  China  were  thrown  open  to  for- 
eigners. Extravagant  hopes  began  to  fill  men's  minds,  and  many 
expectations  were  indulged,  which  have  not  been  realized.  When 
the  supplementary  treaty  was  signed,  (Oct.  8th,  1843,)  boasts  long 
and  loud  were  uttered,  and  hopes  rose  yet  higher.  But  had  men 
been  wise  and  studied  God's  law  and  providence,  they  must  have 
seen  there  was  reason  to  fear  that  treaty  could  not  prosper.  The 
Christian  Plenipotentiary  who  negotiated  it,  agreed  to  the  propo- 
sal of  a  Heathen  Statesman,  and  signed  it  on  the  Lord's  day ! 
There  was  all  the  parade  and  circumstance  of  military  pomp,  and 
men  in  their  joy  forgot  that  there  is  a  God  who  will  not  suffer  his 
law  to  be  violated  with  impunity.  This  treaty,  far  less  than  the 
treaty  of  Nanking,  has  satisfied  the  expectations  at  first  formed. 
Rather  it  has  bitterly  disappointed  them,  for  some  of  its  clauses 
have  nearly  crushed  the  commercial  importance  of  Hong  Kong. 

What  changes  and  accessions  in  our  own  mission  !  I  have 
seen  McBryde  go  home,  and  have  welcomed  here,  Hepburn  and 
Cole,  and  McCartee  and  Way,  and  Loom  is  and  Lloyd,  and  Cul- 
bertson  and  Happer.  Several  of  them  are  already  settled  in  their 


290  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

appointed  stations,  and  now  our  Chinese  mission,  after  various 
fluctuations,  wears  a  more  settled  and  promising  aspect,  than  at 
any  former  time. 

What  changes  in  the  other  missions  !  Mrs.  Boone  and  Mrs. 
Do;: n,  Mr.  Dyer,  Mr.  Morrison,*  Mrs.  Ball  and  Mrs.  Shuck,  have 
gone  to  their  reward.  Some  have  gone  home  on  visits,  one  no 
more  to  return.  Others  have  come  in  their  places.  More  than 
half  the  missionaries  now  in  China  have  arrived  within  the  last 
three  years,  though  of  these  several  had  been  laboring  in  other 
parts  for  the  Chinese.  It  has  been  a  time  of  breaking  up  and  set- 
tling down  again  ;  but  like  the  sea  whose  waters  heave,  even 
when  the  storm  has  died  away,  there  is  a  heaving  and  a  motion 
yet.  What  shall  the  end  of  these  things  be  ?  Little  do  we  know, 
and  still  less  can  we  foresee,  but  "  the  Lord  reigneth,  let  the  earth 
rejoice."  Whatever  changes  may  occur,  all  shall  accomplish  good. 
"I  will  overturn  and  overturn  and  overturn  until  he  come,  whose 
right  it  is  :  and  I  will  give  it  him." — Ezek.  xxi.  27. 

Comparatively  few  vessels  sail  for  the  northern  ports  of  China 
during  the  N.  E.  monsoon,  and  I  was  detained  nearly  a  month  in 
Hong  Kong.  Yet  the  delay,  though  tedious,  was  not  unpleasant, 
for  there  were  many  friends  there,  and  letters  from  home  brought 
me  cheering  news.  At  length  I  succeeded  in  getting  a  berth  on 
board  the  Rob  Roy.  She  is  a  clipper  bark,  built  in  Calcutta,  to 
trade  between  India  and  China.  The  captain  and  mates  are 
English,  and  her  crew  a  motley  mixture  of  Bengalis,  Malays, 
Manila  men,  with  one  or  two  Arabs,  two  Chinese,  and  a  Portu- 
guese from  Goa,  who  is  the  blackest  man  on  board. 

I  regretted  much  that  the  vessel  sailed  to-day,  which  is  the 
Sabbath,  but  this  I  could  not  prevent ;  all  my  baggage  of  course 
was  put  on  board  yesterday,  and  had  she  sailed  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, I  should  have  slept  on  board.  But  knowing  that  there 
would  be  much  bustle  and  confusion,  I  thought  I  could  spend 
the  Sabbath  morning  more  profitably  on  shore.  Got  a  note  from 
the  captain,  saying  she  would  leave  anchorage  at  eleven,  A.  M.  ; 
so  about  ten  I  bade  my  kind  friends  farewell,  and  came  on 
board.  It  looks  but  little  like  the  Sabbath  here.  The  men  were 
washing  the  decks,  officers  busy,  merchants  and  clerks  from  the 
town  on  board,  and  altogether  it  was  far,  far  from  pleasant. 
Shortly  after  eleven  we  started,  but  were  detained  nearly  two 
hours  in  getting  out  of  the  harbor,  by  the  consignees  not  having 
all  the  papers  ready.  How  little  of  the  Sabbath  was  kept  by  the 
consignees,  officer,-!,  and  sixty-three  Lascars  and  other  persons  con- 
cerned in  the  sailing  of  this  single  vessel ! 

We  left  Hong  Kong  on  the  16th  of  February,  with  a  fair  wind, 
which  carried  us  out  of  the  harbor,  but  it  soon  fell  calm,  and  then 
we  had  the  N.  E.  monsoon  directly  in  our  teeth.  Our  vessel  is  a 

*  Although  Mr.  Morrison  wa*  not  a  missionary  himself,  he  was  one  of  our  warmest 
friends,  and  his  death  was  as  much  a  loss  to  the  missionaries,  as  to  an.  other  class  in 
China. 


JOURNAL.  291 

very  fast  sailer,  and  consequently  in  "  beating  passages,"  very  wet, 
and  her  deck  was  seldom  dry.  On  the  18th  we  passed  immense 
numbers  of  fishing-boats  ;  I  counted  one  hundred  and  ninety-five 
at  one  time  in  sight,  and  that  was  not  nearly  all.  We  kept  close 
along  the  Chinese  coast  for  several  days,  beating  against  the  wind, 
and  making  tolerably  good  progress.  After  reaching  Breakei 
Point,  we  stretched  across  the  Formosa  Channel.  The  wind  was 
strong,  and  the  sea  high,  and  for  two  or  three  days  we  were 
uncomfortable  enough.  In  eight  days  after  leaving  the  port, 
we  saw  the  high  land  on  the  southern  end  of  Formosa.  A 
whole  day  was  spent  in  beating  about  there,  and  then,  getting  a 
favorable  breeze,  we  sailed  ';  in  a  smother  of  foam,"  into  the  wide 
Pacific  Ocean.  As  we  saw  it,  it  did  riot  correspond  with  its  name, 
for  the  restless  heaving,  and  rolling,  and  tossing  of  the  waves,  agi- 
tated as  they  were  by  a  strong  wind,  was  anything  but  peaceful. 
The  wind  and  current  still  favoring  us,  we  were  soon  as  far  on 
our  way  as  the  northern  end  of  Formosa.  It  is  rather  remark- 
able that  while  a  strong  current  sets  to  the  southward  on  the 
western  side  of  Formosa,  there  is  a  current  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion on  the  east.  The  reason  probably  is,  that  the  N.  E.  monsoon 
drives  a  large  body  of  water  from  the  Yellow  and  Eastern  seas, 
down  the  Formosa  Channel ;  and  to  supply  the  deficiency  thus 
caused,  a  current  sets  up  from  the  eastern  side  of  the  same  island. 
We  passed  several  islands  on  our  route,  but  they  were  small  and 
rocky,  and  most  probably  barren.  Of  Formosa  itself  we  saw  noth- 
ing after  the  first  day.  This  large  and  populous  island,  which 
may  be  called  the  granary  of  some  of  the  eastern  provinces  of 
China,  is  as  yet  without  the  presence  of  any  missionary,  either 
Protestant  or  Roman  Catholic.  The  western  part  is  under  the 
dominion  of  the  Emperor  of  China,  but  the  inhabitants  of  the 
mountains  in  the  centre  have  not  been  subdued,  and  the  eastern 
shore  is  almost  unknown. 

We  were  so  much  favored  in  the  first  part  of  our  voyage  that 
we  reached  the  latitude  of  the  Chusan  islands  in  sixteen  days, 
whic;i  at  this  season  of  the  year  is  a  very  quick  run  ;  but  the  re- 
mainder of  our  voyage  was  not  so  speedy.  We  had  then  less 
than  two  hundred  miles  further  to  go,  but  a  succession  of  baffling 
head  winds  caused  us  to  spend  a  whole  week  in  going  that  short 
distance.  It  was  not  till  Tuesday,  March  11,  that  we  cast  anchor 
at  Woosung,  twenty-three  days  after  leaving  Hong  Kong.  In  the 
favorable  monsoon  the  voyage  is  made  with  ease  in  less  than  ten 
days.  It  was  a  very  rough  voyage,  and  except  in  urgent  cases 
should  not  be  attempted,  especially  by  females.  The  roughness 
of  the  passage  renders  it  nearly  impossible  to  spend  one's  time 
profitable,  and  three  or  four  weeks,  or  even  five,  for  the  voyage 
is  often  ihat  long,  is  too  much  time  to  1>e  thrown  away.  There 
is  also  all  the  risk,  which  is  not  small,  and  the  exposure,  which,  com- 
ing from  the  warm  latitude  of  Canton,  to  the  colder  climate  of  the 
north,  is  not  a  little  disagreeable.  Yet  men  of  the  world  submit 


292  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

to  all  this,  and  much  more,  for  the  sake  of  earthly  riches,  and  the 
missionary  should  not  hesitate  to  do  the  same  when  the  great  ob- 
ject of  his  life  can  be  gained  by  the  sacrifice  of  some  personal  ease 
or  comfort. 

Most  persons  dislike  the  sea,  and  it  is  common  to  speak  of  the 
monotony  and  tedium  of  long  voyages.  There  is  little  to  be  seen 
that  is  new  after  the  first  few  days,  and  without  caution  and 
watchfulness,  one  is  apt  to  become  impatient  and  fretful.  Yet 
with  due  care,  it  need  not  be  so.  The  best  of  all  expedients  to 
make  the  time  pass  pleasantly,  is  to  have  something  to  do,  and  to 
do  it.  It  requires  some  resolution  to  keep  one's  self  constantly 
employed,  but  the  exertion  is  amply  repaid.  And  there  is  much, 
even  amidst  the  sameness  of  sea  life,  that  is  deeply  instructive. 
God  has  so  ordered  all  things  in  nature,  that  they  form  a  constant 
commentary  and  illustration  of  invisible  and  eternal  things.  That 
more  of  such  analogies  can  be  traced  in  the  sailor's  life  than  in 
any  other  I  will  not  presume  to  say,  but  I  have  often  been  sur- 
prised, and  oftener  still  instructed  as  well  as  gratified,  with  the 
illustrations  of  the  Christian's  course  which  the  voyage  of  a  ship 
affords.  The  various  changes  of  the  weather,  now  calm  and  sun- 
shiny ;  now  stormy  and  dark  ;  now  rapidly  speeding  on  with 
prosperous  breezes,  and  anon,  painfully  laboring  against  the  wind; 
who  has  not  felt  such  changes  as  these  in  his  Christian  course? — 
The  unceasing  diligence  of  all  concerned,  especially  the  captain  and 
officers,  their  constant  study  of  the  charts  and  books  of  directions, 
and  their  anxiety  to  secure  observations  of  the  sun  and  stars,  that 
they  may  know  their  daily  progress  and  position  ;  who  does  not 
recognize  in  this  the  duty  of  the  Christian  to  study  carefully  the 
great  chart  and  book  which  God  has  given  to  direct  us  on  our 
way,  and  by  earnest  looking  upward,  to  gain  wisdom  from  on 
high  to  lead  our  steps? — The  constant  look-out  for  danger,  and 
the  anxiety  to  avoid  hidden  shoals,  to  mark  the  progress  and  di- 
rection of  the  currents,  and  to  take  advantage  of  every  wind  that 
blows  ;  how  often  have  they  reproved  me  for  being  so  careless  of 
danger,  and  so  negligent  where  Christ  said,  "  Watch  !"  and  so  in- 
different to  the  Spirit's  influences,  which,  "like  the  wind,"  must 
waft  the  soul  to  heaven.  When  the  ship  has  dropped  her  anchor 
in  the  port,  universal  joy  possesses  every  heart.  The  dangers  and 
watchings  and  fatigues  of  the  voyage  are  over,  the  rewards  of  labor 
are  now  to  be  enjoyed,  and  the  quietness  and  peace  of  home  to 
repay  the  toils  and  perils  that  are  past.  "  They  are  glad  because 
they  are  quiet,  and  because  they  are  brought  to  their  desired  ha- 
ven," but  how  much  more  real  and  satisfying  is  the  Christian's 
joy,  when  he  enters  the  haven  of  rest,  his  home  in  the  skies. 
There  "  there  is  no  more  sea." 

The  entrance  of  the  great  river  Yang-tsze  Keang  (child  of  the 
ocean)  is  rather  difficult,  especially  to  vessels  drawing  much 
water.  So  much  earth  is  brought  down  by  this  immense  stream, 
and  deposited  in  the  sea,  that  the  water  is  quite  shallow  for  many 


JOURNAL — SHANGHAI.  293 

miles,  and  a  vessel  is  in  danger  of  running  aground  long  before 
the  land  is  seen.  The  coasts  of  China  in  this  latitude  are  low, 
and  perfectly  level,  and  the  land  can  scarcely  be  seen  more  than 
ten  miles  off.  The  strength  of  the  tides  is  also  very  great,  and 
several  vessels  have  already  been  lost  on  the  sands  and  rocks  off 
the  entrance  of  the  river.  Until  lighthouses  are  erected,  and 
buoys  properly  placed,  more  than  ordinary  caution  will  be  re- 
quired of  the  officers  of  vessels  visiting  Shanghai. 

After  entering  the  river,  the  course  is  north-west,  to  Woosung. 
Entering  the  Woosung  river,  the  course  is  south-west,  about 
fourteen  miles  to  Shanghai. 

The  whole  country  for  many  miles  around  the  city  is  a  perfect 
plain,  having  only  sufficient  elevation  and  depression  to  carry  off 
the  water.  There  is  not  a  single  hill  within  twenty  miles  of 
Shanghai,  which,  of  course,  renders  the  appearance  of  the  coun- 
try uninteresting.  The  soil,  however,  is  rich  and  productive,  and 
excepting  the  space  occupied  by  the  graves,  is  in  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  There  are  no  stones,  nor  even  small  pebbles,  for  in  a 
trip  of  some  twenty  miles  along  the  Woosung  river,  not  a  stone 
was  to  be  seen,  except  such  as  had  been  brought  from  a  distance. 
Farm  houses  and  small  villages  dot  the  country  in  every  direc- 
tion, and  clumps  of  bamboos,  with  orchards  of  peaches  and  plum 
trees,  and  willows  by  the  water-courses,  relieve  the  sameness  of 
the  ground.  Two  crops,  one  of  wheat,  and  the  other  of  cotton, 
are  raised  every  year,  and  in  some  parts  a  third  crop  of  rice  is 
also  procured.  Rice,  however,  is  not  so  much  cultivated  here  as 
in  the  more  southern  parts  of  China,  and  as  there  are  few  paddy 
fields  near  the  city,  the  ground  is  not  so  marshy  as  to  render  it 
unhealthy. 

The  city  of  Shanghai  is  pleasantly  situated  at  the  junction  of 
the  Woosung  and  Hwangpoo  rivers.  It  is  of  a  circular  form, 
surrounded  by  walls,  about  fifteen  feet  high,  and  nearly  four  miles 
in  circumference.  The  suburbs  near  the  rivers  are  thickly  in- 
habited, and  the  population  is  estimated  at  about  two  hundred 
thousand  inhabitants.  By  the  Woosung  river  it  is  connected 
with  the  city  of  Soochow,  the  capital  of  the  province,  and  one  of 
the  most  luxurious  and  wealthy  in  the  empire,  and  also  with  the 
Grand  Canal  which  reaches  to  Peking.  Hence  its  situation  is 
one  of  great  importance,  and  its  trade  is  immense.  Rows  of 
junks  are  moored  for  nearly  two  miles  along  the  bank  of  the 
Hwangpoo,  on  the  east  of  the  city,  and  vessels  are  constantly 
arriving  and  departing.  Already  it  is  attracting  a  large  share  of 
foreign  commerce,  and  many  suppose  that  it  will  soon  rival,  if 
not  surpass  Canton,  as  a  place  for  foreign  trade.  Sixty-five  for- 
eign vessels  have  already  entered  the  port,  though  it  is  but  a  year 
and  a  half  since  business  commenced  to  be  done  there.  The 
great  tea  arid  silk  districts  of  China  are  nearer  to  ^Shanghai  than 
to  Canton,  and  if  proper  encouragement  be  held  out,  a  large  part 


294  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

of  those  articles  which  were  formerly  cai  ried  at  great  expense  to 
the  latter  place,  will  find  their  way  eithei  to  Shanghai  or  Ningpo. 

Every  foreigner  who  has  visited  this  place,  gives  the  inhabi- 
tants a  much  better  character  than  those  of  Canton.  They  are 
rather  taller,  of  a  more  ruddy  complexion,  and  much  more  civil 
and  well-disposed  than  their  southern  countrymen.  In  passing 
through  the  streets  one  is  rarely  insulted,  and  the  opprobrious 
epithets  so  common  in  Canton  and  Macao  are  scarfcely  ever  heard 
here. 

The  change  that  has  come  over  the  intercourse  of  the  Chinese 
with  foreigners  within  the  last  few  years,  is  indeed  wonderful.  Five 
years  ago  we  were  confined  to  the  suburbs  of  a  single  city.  Ex- 
posed to  insult  and  scorn  even  there,  and  denied  the  privilege  of 
using  the  sedan  chair,  which  the  poorest  Chinese  may  have  by 
paying  a  hundred  cash.*  While  such  a  thing  as  the  wives  or 
daughters  of  the  foreign  barbarians  being  allowed  to  enter  the 
precincts  of  the  "  Celestial  Empire,"  was  out  of  the  question. 
In  Shanghai,  Dr.  Lockhart  and  myself  walked  quietly  to  the 
English  consulate  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  where  divine  service 
was  held,  on  the  Sabbath,  whilst  his  wife  and  sister  went  be- 
fore us  in  the  sedan  chairs — and,  excepting  a  few  dogs  which 
had  not  yet  become  reconciled  to  the  presence  of  foreigners,  none 
moved  his  tongue  against  us,  and  we  felt  as  secure  as  though  we 
had  been  in  the  cities  of  our  native  lands. 

The  appearance  of  the  city  of  Shanghai  is  not  very  prepossess- 
ing. The  houses  are  crowded  close  together,  and  there  are  few 
buildings  that  make  much  pretensions  to  even  Chinese  ideas  of 
architectural  beauty,  while  by  the  Chinese  themselves  it  ranks 
rather  pre-eminent  among  the  "dirty  cities"  of  the  Empire.  Of 
one  house  now  occupied  by  a  foreigner,  I  was  assured  that  when 
rented  to  him,  it  had  not  been  cleaned  for  twenty  years,  and  was 
in  consequence,  "  unspeakably  dirty,"  and  with  my  own  eyes,  I 
saw  the  dirt  lying  full  four  inches  thick  on  the  floor  of  a  temple 
in  the  heart  of  the  city. 

The  Roman  Catholics  once  had  a  strong  footing  in  Shanghai. 
Paul  Siu,  an  officer  of  the  highest  rank,  and  his  daughter  Can- 
dida, who  were  the  two  most  powerful  and  liberal  friends  the 
Jesuits  ever  possessed  in  China,  were  natives  of  this  city,  and 
several  monuments  to  his  memory  are  still  found  within  the  walls. 
In  one  place,  the  heathen  descendants  of  Siu  offer  incense  to  his 
image.  One  of  the  idol  temples  in  the  city  was  formerly  a  chapel 
of  the  Roman  Catholics,  and  is  even  now  commonly  called  the 
"  Teen-choo-tang,"  or  "  Hall  of  the  Lord  of  Heaven,"  the  name 
they  give  their  places  of  worship  in  China.  There  are  many 
Roman  Catholic  converts  in  the  province  of  Keang-su,  and  several 
foreign  priests,  who  dress  in  Chinese  clothes,  and  live  as  the 
Chinese  do.  The  R.  C.  Bishop  of  Keang-nan  and  Shantung,  an 

*  About  nine  cents. 


JOURNAL — CHU3AN.  295 

Italian,  and  a  nephew  of  the  Pope,  by  the  way,  resides  within 
five  miles  of  Shanghai. 

Saturday,  30th  March,  1845.  Left  Shanghai  on  yesterday,  and 
reached  Woosung  to-day  about  eleven  o'clock.  I  went  ashore, 
and  strolled  up  the  banks  of  the  Yang-tsze  Keang  about  three 
miles.  The  river  is  so  wide,  you  cannot  see  the  other  bank.  The 
country  being  very  low,  high  embankments  are  raised  to  protect 
the  land  from  the  high  tides.  The  embankment  along  the  Yang- 
tsze  Keang,  is  faced  with  solid  masonry  four  feet  thick  and  about 
fifteen  feet  high,  for  several  miles — how  far  exactly  I  cannot  say. 
but  as  far  as  I  went  or  could  see,  it  was  so.  The  termination  of 
my  walk  was  the  little  city  of  Paouhau,  which  is  walled  and  has 
four  gates.  The  city  is  square,  the  circuit  of  the  walls  very  little 
more  than  a  mile,  and  nearly  all  the  houses  are  ranged  along  the 
two  streets  that  extend  from  the  gates  and  intersect  in  the  centre 
of  the  town.  The  rest  of  the  space  within  the  walls  is  occupied 
by  gardens.  I  should  not  think  the  population  was  more  than 
two  thousand.  The  houses  outside  the  walls  were  larger  and 
more  numerous  than  those  within.  I  went  right  through  the 
town,  then  out  at  the  same  gate,  a  crowd  of  boys  at  my  heels, 
then  half  round  the  walls,  and  then  back  to  the  ship. 

Tuesday,  April  1st.  About  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  cast  an- 
chor in  Chusan  harbor,  and  my  joy  at  finding  myself  safe  at.  my 
journey's  end,  was  only  equalled  by  that  of  finding  the  Isabella 
Ann  with  Loomis  and  Culbertson  safe  on  board.  She  arrived  on 
Saturday,  after  a  thirty-eight  days'  passage,  which,  from  the  ac- 
counts they  have  given  me,  was  not  only  very  unpleasant,  but 
even  dangerous  ;  but  we  are  all  safe  here.  Thames  to  God,  who 
holds  the  winds  and  directs  the  storms. 

In  the  day-time  went  through  the  city  of  Tinghai.  Loomis 
and  his  wife  remain  here  for  the  present.  The  Culbertsons  go  to 
Ningpo  to-morrow.  I  shall  remain  several  days  and  go  to  Ningpo 
early  next  week. 

Tinghai  is  in  the  centre  of  a  large  valley,  with  high  hills  on 
three  sides.  At  this  time  the  valley  is  all  green  and  yellow  with 
crops  of  beans,  barley,  and  cabbage  in  flower,  and  looks  very  well. 
The  streets  are,  I  think,  cleaner  than  is  usual  in  Chinese  towns. 
In  the  evening  I  walked  with  Loomis  and  Culbertson  over  the  lit- 
tle island  just  opposite  Tinghai ;  a  splendid  view  from  the  top ; 
quite  delighted  to  find  some  blue  and  white  violets  growing  on  the 
hill. 

Wednesday,  April  2d.  Went  to  the  Isabella  Ann  to  see  about 
my  freight.  Found  my  mattress  was  missing,  and  several  boxes 
of  my  books  wet.  Had  not  time  to  open  them,  but  shall  doubt- 
less find  them  much  spoiled.  The  Rob  Roy  being  so  full,  I  could 
not  bring  them  in  her,  and  had  to  send  them  by  the  other.  Mr. 
Bates,  an  American  merchant,  the  only  American  here,  has  very 
kindly  offered  me  a  room  while  I  stay  here. 

Thursday,  April  3d.   I  had  my  boxes  from  the  Isabella  Ann 


MEMOIR    OF    WAVIER    M.  LOWRIE. 

taken  to  Mr.  Loomis's  house,  and  as  they  had  got  wet  on  board 
the  ship,  I  had  serious  misgivings  about  their  condition.  I  opened 
them  to-day  ;  but  oh,  what  a  mess  !  My  books,  my  noble  books, 
on  which  I  prided  myself  so  much;  some  were  utterly  ruined, 
more  than  half  are  seriously  injured,  three-fourths  are  greatly  de- 
faced, and  not  one-fourth  have  escaped  without  some  damage. 
Five  hundred  dollars  would  not  replace  the  injury  they  have 
suffered. 

The  mate  of  the  vessel  who  stowed  them  away,  "  thought  they 
were  spirits  or  wine,"  and  put  them  in  the  part  of  the  vessel  where 
such  articles  are  kept,  where,  if  water  should  come,  no  harm  is 
done  !  I  fancy  he  had  some  spirits  in  his  head  when  he  thought 
so.  Well,  there  was  no  use  of  crying,  or  scolding,  or  fretting ;  so 
I  did  not  lose  my  temper.  I  only  wished  I  had  not  brought  so 
many ;  but  as  wishing  was  of  no  avail,  I  commenced  to  rub  and 
air  them.  I  got  two  Chinese  to  help  me.  They  will  be  a  pitiable 
sight  when  all  is  done. 

Friday,  April  4th.  A  wet,  raining  forenoon.  Went  to  Loomis's 
house,  and  spent  several  hours  among  my  damaged  books.  Alas ! 
alas ! 

Coming  back,  I  heard  a  heavy  regular  tramp  behind  me,  and 
supposed  it  must  be  a  company  of  six  or  eight  soldiers  going  to 
relieve  guard.  Without  looking  round,  I  walked  as  close  as  I 
could  to  the  houses,  to  let  them  pass.  At  last  finding  no  one 
passed,  I  looked  round,  and  behold,  it  was  a  Chinaman  with  shoes 
for  rainy  weather.  These  shoes  are  made  like  other  Chinese 
shoes,  with  the  addition  of  a  great  many  heavy  iron  nails  in  the 
sole;  the  heads  are  of  a  conical  shape,  and  about  half  an  inch 
thick. 

Monday,  April  7th.  After  breakfast,  I  started  with  Mr.  Loomis 
for  a  walk.  Tinghai  is  built  in  a  valley.  We  went  through  the 
city,  and  out  at  the  north  gate,  and  then  up  through  the  largest 
valley.  What  a  delightful  walk  it  was  !  I  do  not  think  I  have 
had  one  so  pleasant  in  China.  There  were  farm-houses  and 
paddy-fields,  and  clover-patches,  with  red  yellow  flowers ;  and 
some  of  the  farmers  were  ploughing  the  clover  in  for  manure. 
There  were  patches  of  barley,  and  cabbages  run  to  seed.  I  won- 
der what  they  do  with  so  many  cabbage  seeds?  They  make  oil 
for  cooking  and  lamps.  There  were  some  beautifully  built  tombs, 
with  cedars  planted  round  them.  There  were  dandelions,  and  a 
kind  of  wild  honeysuckle,  violets,  and  some  flowers  a  little  like 
larkspurs.  Then  there  was  a  beautiful  little  stream  bubbling  and 
murmuring  over  the  stones  ;  and  altogether  I  have  seen  nothing 
so  much  like  home  since  I  left  the  United  States.  The  top  of  the 
hills  where  we  went,  was  about  three  miles  from  Tinghai,  and 
though  the  sun  was  warm,  the  north  wind  kept  us  pleasantly 
cool.  What  a  splendid  climate  is  this.  It  is  April  now,  and  the 
people  in  Macao  are  wearing  white  jackets,  while  here  we  have 
all  our  winter  clothing  on  yet. 


JOURNAL CHUSAN.  297 

There  was  a  large  valley  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  hills,  with 
many  houses,  and  highly  cultivated.  As  we  did  not  wish  to  go 
farther,  we  turned  into  a  stone  hut  thatched  with  straw,  and  asked 
for  a  bowl  of  water,  which  was  cheerfully  given.  I  tried  my  Chi- 
nese on  the  man,  and  could  get  along  after  a  fashion. 

Tuesday,  April  8th.  After  breakfast  Loomis  and  I  started  for  a 
walk.  Went  out  of  the  east  gate,  and  up  the  valley  that  runs 
eastward  from  Tinghai.  The  valley  is  very  rich,  and  highly  cul- 
tivated. They  are  just  now  letting  the  water  on  for  a  crop  of  rice, 
and  we  saw  the  first  bed  in  which  the  rice  is  sown,  previous  to 
transplanting.  Several  fields  of  barley,  all  planted  in  bunches, 
and  some  nearly  ready  for  reaping ;  a  patch  of  peas  in  blossom, 
numerous  beds  of  stalk  beans,  fields  of  clover,  buffalos  and  buf- 
falo cows,  and  numerous  farm-houses,  rendered  the  walk  very  in- 
teresting. From  the  main  valley  numerous  lesser  ones  run  in 
among  the  hills  on  either  side,  affording  a  large  extent  of  cultiva- 
ble land;  and  most  of  the  lower  hills  were  cultivated  to  the  top, 
while  the  larger  hills  are  also  studded  over  with  cultivated  spots, 
very  far  up.  This  is  certainly  a  very  beautiful  island.  Much 
more  rice  is  produced  than  the  inhabitants  can  use,  and  a  great 
part  is  consumed  in  making  sam  shoo,  a  highly  intoxicating 
liquor. 

On  our  return  we  stopped  at  a  large  and  neat  private  house,  or 
rather  collection  of  houses,  belonging  to  one  person.  On  entering 
the  door,  the  females,  who  were  sitting  in  one  of  the  back  rooms, 
started  up  in  some  alarm,  but  as  they  saw  us  not  very  ferocious, 
they  stood  and  looked.  Presently  the  father  of  the  household 
came  out,  and  invited  us  to  enter  the  reception  hall,  which  was 
designated  as  the  Hall  of  Patience  and  Benevolence.  He  had  tea 
brought  in,  grown,  as  he  said,  on  the  island ;  and  I  tried  my  Chi- 
nese on  him,  but  not  very  successfully.  The  old  man  was  very 
polite,  but  rather  deaf,  and  did  not  understand  me  so  well  as  his 
son  or  grandson,  who  stood  outside.  After  sitting  awhile,  I  gave 
him  a  copy  of  Ephesians  and  came  away,  much  gratified  with 
our  visit. 

Packed  up  my  books,  or  at  least  part  of  them,  to  take  to  Ningpo. 
About  two  hundred  volumes  were  in  such  a  state  that  I  must  leave 
them  here  for  a  while,  and  some  fifty  or  more  are  about  useless. 
"  Three  removes  are  as  bad  as  a  fire  !" 

Thursday,  April  10th.  Left  Chusan  at  half-past  nine,  A.  M., 
with  fair  tide  but  light  wind.  Chartered  a  native  boat,  and  took 
most  of  my  goods  and  chattels,  making  twenty-one  packages  in 
all;  paid  three  dollars  for  the  boat,  which  is  about  one-third  of 
what  I  should  have  had  to  pay  in  Macao.  There  were  only  a  few 
passengers,  as  I  told  the  owner  he  must  not  crowd  the  boat. 
Among  the  passengers  were  two  inhabitants  of  the  mainland 
from  near  Chinhai,  a  farmer,  a  Budhist  priest,  and  a  Fuhkeea 
merchant,  decidedly  the  most  intelligent  of  the  whole.  There 
were  several  others,  but  I  saw  none  of  them  except  one,  who  came 


298  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

to  me  once  with  his  breath  smelling  so  strong  of  opium,  that  I 
gave  him  a  lecture  thereupon. 

At  first  they  showed  vast  curiosity  about  my  clothes,  shoes, 
gloves,  &c.,  which  they  examined  most  minutely.  The  Fuhkeen 
merchant  was  more  sensible.  I  could  talk  just  a  little  with  all  of 
them,  and  soon  was  on  very  good  terms  with  them,  and  gave  them 
some  tracts,  but  the  Fuhkeen  man  was  the  only  person  who  could 
read  understandingly.  The  priest  said  there  was  an  old  man  at 
his  house  who  could  read,  and  I  gave  him  one  for  him.  Our 
course  lay  along  the  southern  shore  of  Ken  long,  and  about  two 
o'clock  we  entered  the  Ningpo  river.  A  good  many  junks  were 
lying  off  Chinhai,  a  walled  city  at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Here 
our  passengers  all  left;  and  as  the  tide  turned  against  us.  and  the 
wind  was  very  light,  we  had  to  remain  several  hours.  During  the 
night  the  tide  changed,  and  we  kept  on.  I  slept  until  daylight, 

Friday,  April  llth,  When  I  looked  out.  and  found  myself  on 
the  eastern  side  of  Ningpo.  I  soon  found  Mr.  Way  and  Mr.  Cul- 
bertson,  and  in  half  an  hour  had  my  goods  all  ashore,  without 
taking  them  to  the  Custom-house. 

Breakfast  at  eight  o'clock.  After  prayers  I  soon  found  Dr. 
McCartee,  who  is  living  in  a  monastery.  Then  took  a  walk 
through  the  city,  admired  the  straightness  and  width  and  com- 
parative cleanness  of  the  streets,  and  afterwards  went  to  the  Pa- 
goda, or  Tower  of  Ningpo,  an  immense  tall  tower,  a  hundred  feet 
or  more  in  height.  Vast  numbers  of  swallows  have  built  their 
nests  in  holes  in  the  walls.  Going  up  to  the  top,  I  enjoyed  a  mag- 
nificent view  of  the  country  around.  Ningpo  is  in  a  vast  plain,  a 
perfect  level ;  but  high  hills  are  in  sight  on  all  sides  but  one. 
The  plain  is  so  level  that  the  hills  look  quite  near,  but  they  are 
really  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  miles  distant. 

At  six  o'clock,  p.  M.,  took  a  walk  with  Way  and  Culbertson,  and 
their  wives.  There  are  but  few  houses  in  this  part  of  the  suburbs, 
and  we  walked  about  perfectly  unembarrassed  with  people.  The 
vegetation  is  very  luxuriant  here.  Saw  several  tombs  erected  in 
the  time  of  the  Ming  Dynasty ;  there  was  first  a  pair  of  stone  rams  ; 
then  of  dogs ;  then  of  horses  saddled  and  bridled  ;  then  of  monks  ; 
and  then  of  tombs.  I  have  seen  many  of  them  at  Shanghai. 

Here  endeth  my  first  day  in  Ningpo.  I  am  very  much  gratified 
with  all  I  have  seen. 

Saturday,  April  12th.  After  breakfast,  Way  and  Culbertson 
and  myself  started  for  a  walk  round  the  city  walls,  commencing 
at  the  north  gate.  The  whole  time  occupied  was  one  hour  and 
forty  minutes ;  and  as  the  day  was  cold  and  we  walked  fast,  we 
reckoned  the  circuit  of  the  walls  to  be  six  miles.  The  walls  are 
about  fifteen  feet  high,  with  a  parapet  six  feet  higher.  Within 
the  parapet,  the  top  of  the  wall  is  wide  enough  for  four  or  five  to 
walk  abreast.  The  wall  is  flanked  with  stone  on  both  sides,  and 
paved  on  the  top  ;  the  middle,  I  suppose,  is  filled  with  rubbish. 
It  is  in  a  tolerably  good  state  of  preservation  ;  though  in  several 


JOURNAL — NINGPO.  299 

places  the  parapet  has  fallen,  and  in  many  places  grass  and  bushes 
are  growing  among  the  stones.  The  city  is  tolerably  well  filled 
with  houses;  though  near  the  western  and  northern  walls,  there 
are  many  vacant  places.  Tiie  suburbs  at  the  eastern  and  western 
gates  are  both  very  closely  built  and  populous.  Between  the  rivers 
and  a  deep  canal,  the  city  is  nearly  surrounded  with  water.  There 
are  also  two  lakes  and  a  canal  within  the  city,  which  communi- 
cate with  that  outside  by  two  water  gates,  adjoining  the  south 
and  west  gates. 

In  a  hasty  walk  round  the  city,  one  cannot  notice  much.  One 
thing  that  particularly  struck  the  eye  was  the  mode  of  interment. 
There  are  two  in  common  practice.  The  first  and  most  common 
is  to  place  the  massive  coffin  on  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and 
leave  it  there.  Sometimes  it  is  bound  round  with  matting  or 
straw,  and  occasionally  built  up  around  with  brick  ;  but  commonly 
the  coffin  is  simply  laid  on  the  ground.  Sometimes  you  see  only 
one  ;  sometimes  a  dozen ;  and  occasionally,  hundreds  lying  close 
together,  close  by  the  houses  both  within  and  without  the  walls. 
The  other  mode  is  to  cover  the  body  with  a  conical  mound  of 
earth,  and  plant  evergreens,  commonly  cedars,  around  it.  There 
is  quite  a  forest  of  such  plantations  on  the  west  of  the  city.  1  am 
not  sure  whether  the  body  is  interred  in  these  mounds,  or  whether 
the  bones  are  taken  out  of  the  exposed  coffin  after  the  flesh  has 
decayed,  and  then  interred.  At  Shanghai  there  is  the  same  mode 
of  laying  the  coffins  on  the  ground  and  of  erecting  earthen  mounds, 
but  I  do  not  remember  the  evergreens. 

Came  back  to  Dr.  McCartee's  establishment,  which  is  just  within 
the  northern  gate.  It  is  his  prescribing  day,  and  he  had  a  great 
crowd.  I  concluded  to  take  a  set  of  rooms,  some  four  or  five,  which 
the  monks  offered  to  let  me  have,  and  to  put  some  furniture  in  for 
me,  for  five  dollars  a  month,  with  possession  on  Tuesday  or  Wed- 
nesday. It  will  be  a  capital  place  to  learn  the  language,  which  is 
my  object  at  present. 

A  cold,  rainy  afternoon  and  evening,  and  all  glad  to  gather  round 
a  charcoal  fire. 

April  14th,  1845.  After  a  visit  to  the  city,  we  sailed  some  dis- 
tance up  the  north  branch  of  the  river,  whose  course  is  quite 
crooked  a  short  distance  above  the  North  Gate.  At  the  distance 
of  twelve  le,*  we  passed  a  large  distillery,  known  by  the  usual 
sign  of  a  tall  pole,  with  a  small  round  bamboo  sieve  near  the  top, 
and  a  small  flag  above  it.  Passing  three  le  further,  we  went 
ashore  at  a  temple  where  the  keeper  received  us  full  civilly,  and 
gave  us  tea  to  drink.  The  temple  contained  nothing  of  interest, 
but  we  were  amused  in  watching  a  bout  as  it  passed  over  a  sluice. 
As  the  tide  rises  and  falls  several  feet  in  the  river,  the  small 
streams  and  canals  that  empty  into  it  would  be  nearly  useless  at 
low  water.  To  prevent  this,  they  are  all  dammed  up  at  the 

*  Three  le  are  about  one  mile. 


300  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

mouth,  and  thus  the  water  is  made  to  stand  always  at  nearly  the 
same  level,  so  that  they  are  always  useful  for  irrigation  and  navi- 
gation. To  enable  boats  to  enter  the  river,  and  come  back  into 
the  canals,  the  dam  is  rounded  off,  and  by  means  of  two  rude 
capsterns  and  bamboo  ropes,  the  boats  are  hauled  up  to  the  top 
of  the  dam.  It  consists  simply  of  mud,  beaten  smooth  and  hard, 
and  rendered  slippery  by  pouring  a  little  water  overit.  As  soon  as 
the  boats  are  once  at  the  top,  their  own  weight  carries  them  down 
the  other  side,  and  they  enter  the  river  like  a  ship  launched  from 
the  stocks.  Each  sluice  is  attended  by  two  men  and  several  boys, 
and  it  requires  but  a  minute  or  two  to  pass  a  boat  in  either  direc- 
tion. By  these  economical  locks  there  is  no  loss  of  water,  and 
the  wear  of  the  flat-bottomed  boats  is  small.  The  toll  for  passing 
these  sluices  varies  from  five  to  eight  cents,  according  to  the  size 
of  the  boat. 

15th.  The  wheat  and  barley  are  now  in  the  ear,  and  the  heads 
begin  to  grow  heavy. 

16th.  Crossed  the  ferry  at  the  east  gate,  where  a  large  number 
of  boats  are  constantly  plying.  This  place,  at  the  junction  of  the 
two  rivers,  is  the  most  busy  part  of  Ningpo.  Went  over  to  the 
eastern  suburb,  which  is  large  and  populous,  and  a  place  of  much 
business,  but  not  remarkable  for  cleanliness.  After  strolling 
through  several  streets,  came  by  the  Bridge  of  Boats,  to  the  Ling 
Keaou  Nuw,  or  "Gate  o'f  the  Etherial  Bridge."  The  bridge, 
which  has  not  much  that  is  very  etherial  about  it,  consists  of  a 
flooring  laid  over  a  number  of  large  boats,  which  are  anchored  in 
the  stream,  with  sufficient  space  for  small  boats  to  pass  between. 
Numerous  stalls  of  what  might  be  called  "  notions,"  occupy  either 
side  of  the  bridge,  and  a  great  crowd  is  constantly  passing  and 
repassing.  There  is  no  toll  on  this  bridge. 

The  street  from  the  Ling  Keaou  Nuw  is  almost  entirely  occupied 
by  furniture  shops,  some  of  which  present  a  very  showy  appear- 
ance. The  bedsteads,  with  their  carved,  painted,  and  gilded 
frames,  and  gay  decorations,  are  the  most  remarkable. 

Continuing  our  walk  through  several  streets,  we  were  objects 
of  general  curiosity.  A  foreigner  is  still  "  a  sight  worth  seeing" 
in  Ningpo,  and  men  and  boys  both  cry  out  as  we  pass,  "  Hung" 
ma  nym  !  hung-  ma  nyin  /"  a  term  which  literally  means  "  red- 
haired  men,"  but  is  applied  without  exception  to  all  foreigners.  Oc- 
casionally, a  mischievous  boy  cries  out,  "  Wailo  /"  a  term  derived 
from  foreigners,  and  equivalent  to  "be  off!"  but  it  often  seems  to 
be  done  more  with  the  intention  of  exciting  our  attention  than  of 
insulting  us.  From  hearing  the  soldiers  and  sailors  calling  to 
their  companions,  "I  say — look  here,"  &c.,  the  natives  have  got 
the  idea  that  "  I  say"  is  equivalent  to  a  proper  name,  and  one  is 
often  saluted  with  it  in  passing  through  the  streets. 

17th.  In  conversation  with  an  old  gentleman  who  is  himself  a 
seivtsai,  a  literary  degree  equivalent  to  our  Bachelor  of  Arts,  he 
informed  me  that  there  are  about  four  hundred  sewtsai  in  the  city, 


JOURNAL — NINGPO.  301 

and  nearly  a  thousand  in  this/oo,  or  department,  which  contains 
six  keen,  or  districts.  He  estimates  the  population  of  Ningpo  at 
forty  myriads,  or  four  hundred  thousand,  a  large  estimate  prob- 
ably. He  knew  something  of  other  nations  ; — a  rare  acquirement 
even  among  the  most  educated  of  the  Chinese,  and  seemed  very 
proud  of  displaying  his  geographic  learning. 

Afterwards  went  with  Dr.  McCartee  to  see  the  garden  of  Mr. 
Kiang,  a  salt  merchant,  supposed  to  be  the  richest  man  in  Ningpo. 
It  is  visited  by  nearly  every  foreigner  who  comes  here,  and  is  very 
beautiful,  though  not  large.  Artificial  rock-work,  caverns,  poola 
of  water,  summer-houses,  green  arbors,  and  sweet  flowers,  make 
it  a  very  pleasant  place.  The  old  gentleman  was  very  polite,  and 
according  to  custom,  gave  us  tea  to  drink,  which,  not  accord- 
ing to  custom,  was  really  excellent.  The  old  man  is  hard  of 
hearing,  and  said  little  ;  but  one  of  his  sons  talked  a  great  deal 
about  America  and  broadcloth.  Nothing  seems  to  take  the  fancy 
of  the  Chinese  so  much  as  the  cloth  we  wear,  whether  woollen, 
linen,  or  cotton,  and  it  is  usually  one  of  the  first  topics  on  which 
they  begin  to  ask  questions. 

18th.  Took  up  my  quarters  at  the  Yu  shing  kwan  monastery, 
belonging  to  the  Taou  sect,  which  is  situated  just  within  the 
north  gate  of  the  city.  There  are,  in  all,  five  monks  in  the  estab- 
lishment. As  soon  as  my  baggage  was  brought  in,  the  old  abbot 
sent  in  a  wooden  waiter  with  a  pile  of  sponge  cakes,  and  four 
cups  of  tea,  together  with  a  red  card,  on  the  top  of  which  was 
written,  "Congratulations,"  and  beneath,  " The  resident  supporter 
of  the  Yu  shing  kwan  monastery.  Hwang  che  hwuy  bows  his 
head  and  worships."  A  small  present  was  sent  back  in  return. 

In  the  morning,  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  a  "small  foot" 
uncovered.  One  of  the  female  patients  had  some  disease,  which 
made  it  necessary  to  take  the  bandages  off  the  foot,  a  thing  they 
are  commonly  unwilling  to  do  before  strangers.  The  sight  was 
by  no  means  pleasant.  All  the  toes  except  the  largest  were  turned 
under  the  sole  of  the  foot;  the  instep  was  greatly  elevated,  and 
the  hollow  between  the  heel  and  the  ball  of  the  foot  m^ich  deeper 
than  in  the  natural  state.  All  the  women  here,  excepting  the 
nuns,  have  their  feet  thus  unnaturally  compressed,  and  in  conse- 
quence, you  never  see  a  woman  able  to  walk  with  even  tolerable 
ease  and  grace.  They  all  go  hobbling  about  like  cripples,  and 
frequently  have  to  depend  upon  an  umbrella,  or  the  shoulder  of  a 
female  attendant  whose  feet  are  not  quite  so  cruelly  hampered  as 
their  own,  to  support  their  steps. 

For  several  days  past,  green  peas  in  abundance  have  been  sold 
in  the  markets. 

19th.  In  our  walk  after  breakfast,  we  found  some  soldiers  prac- 
tising musketry  under  the  direction  of  their  officers.  They  were 
merely  firing  blank  cartridges,  and  the  sole  object  seemed  to  be  to 
accustom  them  to  load  swiftly  and  fire  with  deiiberation.  Nearly 
every  man  shut  his  eyes,  and  turned  away  his  head  when  he 


302  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

pulled  the  trigger.  The  guns  were  all  matchlocks  of  the  rudest 
construction,  and  the  touch-hole  was  large  enough  to  admit  a  ten- 
penuy-nail,  consequently  nearly  a  third  of  the  charge  escaped^at 
tin;  \\Tong  end.  Each  man,  after  firing,  lifted  up  his  right  foot, 
made  a  bow  to  the  officer  corkrij^nding,  and  fell  back  ;  hut  the 
whole  exhibition  was  poorly  calSSHfcted  to  inspire  one  with  respect 
for  their  prowess  or  eificiericy. 

Afterwards  went  to  the  Hwuy-Hvvuy  Tang,  or  Mohammedan 
Mosque.  The  keepers  of  the  building  were  from  Shantung;  and 
one  old  woman  spoke  Mandarin  beautifully.  (The  purest  Man- 
darine dialect  is  spoken  in  Shantung.)  The  mosque  is  a  small 
building,  with  many  Arabic  inscriptions,  and  we  were  informed 
that  there  are  some  five  hundred  Mohammedans  in  Ningpo.  They 
have  a  larger  mosque,  and  more  numerous  population  in  Hangr 
chou,  the  capital  of  this  province.  There  was  formerly  a  Jewish 
synagogue  in  Ningpo,  as  well  as  one  in  Hangchou,  but  no  traces 
of  them  are  now  discoverable,  and  the  only  Jews'  known  to  exist 
in  China,  are  in  Kaifung  foo,  the  capital  of  Honan. 

Visited  also  a  small  flower-garden,  but  saw  little  worthy  of  no- 
tice. There  were  some  dwarf  trees,  and  curiously-twisted  and 
gnarled,  shrubs,  which  the  Chinese  take  great  delight  in  cultivat- 
ing. By  tying  cords  to  the  branches,  so  as  to  make  them  grow 
crookedly,  and  other  devices,  they  succeed  in  giving  to  young  and 
small  trees  the  appearance  of  great  age. 

20th.  Preached  this  morning  to  the  largest  congregation  of  for- 
eigners that  has  yet  met  in  Ningpo,  sixteen  persons  in  all. 

21st.  Dr.  McCartee  having  occasion  to  go  to  Chusan  to-day,  I 
am  left  alone  in  the  monastery ;  but  a  smattering  of  Mandarin, 
of  which  the  people  all  understand  a  little,  enables  me  to  get 
along  without  difficulty.  Dr.  McCartee  has  three  boys  under  his 
care,  the  two  elder  of  whom  are  very  interesting  and  affectionate  ; 
and  his  teacher  is  a  kind-hearted,  excellent  man,  "  almost  persua- 
ded to  be  a  Christian."  We  have  prayers  morning  and  evening 
in  Chinese,  when  the. teacher  reads  and  explains  a  chapter  in 
Chinese,  and  repeats  or  reads  a  prayer ;  after  which  we  have  a 
prayer  in  English.  A-chang,  the  second  boy,  was  greatly  de- 
lighted with  rny  barometer,  and  repeated  several  times,  "Heaou 
teh  fung  !  heaou  teh  yu  !"  "  It  understands  the  wind !  It  under- 
stands the  rain  !"  and  finally,  he  declared  there  was  nothing  so 
admirable  in  all  Ningpo. 

Shortly  after  Dr.  McCartee  started,  a  man  came  in  great  haste 
to  have  him  go  and  see  a  man  who  had  swallowed  opium,  a  com- 
mon mode  of  committing  suicide.  Dr.  Macgowan  happened  to 
be  here,  and  went  immediately,  but  the  man  was  dead  before  he 
could  see  him. 

22d.  Teaching  the  boys  English,  who,  in  return,  make  capital 
teachers  in  Chinese. 

A  man  came  for  medicine  to  cure  opium  smoking,  He  had  no 
money  to  buy  more  opium,  and  the  desire  for  it  was  so  strong,  as 


JOURNAL — NINGPO. 

to  be  a  torment.  When  told  that  I  could  do  nothing  for  him,  not 
being  a  physician,  he  asked  with  some  asperity,  "  Then  what  did 
you  come  here  for,  since  you  are  not  a  merchant?"  My  knowl- 
edge of  the  language  was  scarcely  sufficient  to  answer  his  ques- 
tion satisfactorily. 

23d.  Arranging  my  rooms,  and  putting  my  clock  up.  Got  a 
servant  to-day,  who  seems  to  be  a  very  simple-hearted,  good  sort 
of  a  fellow,  and  who  looked  with  unbounded  admiration  at  the 
clock.  kSeeing  one  of  the  monks,  he  called  out  to  him,  "  Here  is 
a  clock  !"  It  has  been  a  great  object  of  admiration  all  day. 

25th.  Along  with  Dr.  McCartee,  and  Messrs.  Way  and  Cul- 
bertson,  went  out  several  miles  into  the  country  to  see  a  patient  of 
the  Doctor's,  who  is  confined  with  a  broken  leg.  The  country  is 
intersected  with  innumerable  canals,  which  supply  the  place  of 
high  roads  in  other  countries.  Much  ground  is  also  covered  with 
tombs,  so  that  the  common  saying,  that  the  Chinese  use  no  ground 
for  tombs  which  can  be  cultivated,  is  incorrect.  In  the  south, 
where  barren  hills  abound,  and  only  the  valleys  are  fit  for  culti- 
vation, the  remark  is  true  ;  but  about  Shanghai,  Chusan,  and 
Ningpo,  it  is  not. 

The  canals  are  full  of  fish :  to  catch  them,  bamboo  fences  are 
staked  across  them  in  numerous  places,  with  only  an  opening  for 
boats.  The  opening  itself  is  staked  with  flexible  reeds,  which  al- 
low the  water  to  pass  through,  and  boats  to  pass  over,  but  effectu- 
ally prevent  the  fish.  Commonly,  the  fences  are  formed  into  a 
kind  of  labyrinth,  so  that  when  the  fish  are  driven  to  them,  they 
enter  a  trap,  from  which  it  is  difficult  to  escape,  and  they  are  then 
scooped  up  with  a  small  hand-net.  The  appearance  of  the  coun- 
try is  very  beautiful ;  crops  of  wheat  and  barley  nearly  ready  for 
the  reaper,  patches  of  clover,  beds  of  rice  for  transplanting,  young 
fields  of  reeds  for  mats,  (a  very  important  part  of  the  trade  of 
Ningpo,)  water-wheels,  worked  by  buffaloes  or  men,  the  latter 
sort  somewhat  on  the  principle  of  the  tread-mil),  a  few  water  buf- 
faloes and  oxen,  quiet  farm-houses  and  numerous  villages,  with 
some  old  trees,  form  a  picture  of  great  beauty.  Oh!  that  this 
were  indeed  Immanuel's  land  !  that  those  whom  we  meet  were 
partakers  of  the  same  faith  and  hope  with  us!  "How  long,  O 
Lord  !  Return  and  visit  these  long  desolations  !" 

30th.  Invited  to  a  Chinese  dinner.  The  dishes  were  brought  in 
bowls,  everything  being  cut  up,  and  ready  for  use.  Each  guest 
was  provided  with  a  small  wine-cup,  a  spoon,  and  a  pair  of  chop- 
sticks. The  guests  were  Dr.  McCartee  and  his  teacher,  the  old 
abbot  and  one  of  the  monks  from  the  monastery,  and  myself. 
The  dishes  were  : — stewed  chicken,  cold  goose,  duck  and  bamboo- 
sprouts,  pork,  fish,  cherries,  water-chestnuts,  pea-nuts,  soup,  beche 
de-rner,  ginger,  preserved  eggs,  spinnage,  and  rice  and  tea  to  close 
with ;  besides,  hot  spirits  distilled  from  rice.  It  was  my  first  effort 
with  chop-sticks,  which  are  awkward  enough  at  first,  especially 
when  you  try  to  take  up  a  hard-boiled  egg.  Several  of  the  dishes 


304  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

were  very  palatable,  but  one  or  two  of  the  customs  were  not  par- 
ticularly pleasant,  e.g.,  the  old  abbot,  after  putting  his  chop-sticks 
several  times  into  his  mouth,  picked  out  a  tempting  piece  of  goose, 
and  offered  it  to  me  with  the  same  sticks.  I  begged  to  be  excused, 
though  it  is  a  mark  of  polite  attention  to  make  such  an  offer;  also 
a  wet  cloth  was  handed  round  after  dinner  to  wipe  the  fingers  and 
mouth,  the  same  cloth  for  all. 

May  2d,  1845.  Observed  some  strawberries  quite  ripe.  In  size, 
shape,  and  color,  and  in  the  leaf,  they  are  much  like  ours  ;  but 
they  are  quite  tasteless,  and  so  little  used  by  the  Chinese,  that 
most  of  them  think  them  poisonous.  I  have,  however,  eaten 
some,  and  seen  others  do  the  same,  without  any  unpleasant  effects. 
While  gathering  them,  a  man  came  along,  who  accosted  me,  and 
begged  for  medicine  to  cure  him  of  opium  smoking.  Notwith- 
standing my  telling  him  that  I  had  none,  he  followed  me  all  the 
way  to  ray  lodgings,  repeating  his  request. 

May  3.  In  the  afternoon  a  respectable  and  interesting-looking 
Chinese  came  to  the  Yushing  kwan  temple  to  perform  some  cere- 
monies on  the  sixth  birth-day  of  his  son.  The  little  fellow  was 
dressed  in  his  best  clothes,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  the  whole  affair. 
His  father  had  brought  gilt  paper,  printed  prayers,  and  a  large 
number  of  bowls  full  of  various  meats,  rice,  vegetables,  nuts,  cups 
of  wine,  and  the  like,  which  were  spread  out  before  the  idols. 
The  ceremonies  were  performed  in  the  apartment  of  the  Tow-moo, 
or  Bushel  Mother,  who  has  special  charge  of  young  people,  both 
before  and  after  birth.  The  old  abbot  clothed  himself  in  a  scarlet 
robe,  with  a  gilt  image  of  a  serpent  fastened  in  his  hair.  One  of  the 
monks  wore  a  purple,  and  another  an  ash-colored  robe.  A  multi- 
tude of  prayers,  seemingly  little  else  than  a  round  of  repetitions, 
were  read  by  the  abbot.  Occasionally  he  chanted  a  little,  when 
the  attendants  joined  in  chorus,  and  every  few  minutes  a  deafen- 
ing clamor  of  bells,  cymbals,  and  hollow  blocks  of  wood,  was 
raised.  Genuflexions  and  prostrations  innumerable  accompanied 
the  whole  ceremony.  The  most  singular  part  was  the  passing  of 
a  live  cock  through  a  barrel  which  had  both  ends  knocked  out. 
This  was  done  several  times  by  two  assistants,  who  shouted  some 
strange  words  at  each  repetition  of  the  ceremony.  The  meaning, 
as  I  was  afterwards  told,  was  something  like  this :  Prayers  had 
been  offered  to  the  idol  that  the  child  might  escape  certain  dangers 
through  which  he  must  pass;  and  each  passing  of  the  cock 
through  the  barrel  was  intended  to  symbolize  his  passing  safely 
through  one  of  these  perils.  It  was  a  melancholy  sight.  In  con- 
clusion, some  of  the  prayers  were  burnt,  a  cup  of  wine  poured  out 
as  a  libation,  and  a  grand  chorus  of  bell,  and  gong,  and  drum, 
and  blocks,  closed  the  scene. 

May  8.  Dr.  McCartee  was  called  this  evening  to  see  a  young 
man,  who  had  poisoned  himself,  in  the  eastern  suburbs,  but  he 
was  dead  before  his  arrival.  He  was  but  seventeen  years  old 


JOURNAL — NINGPO.  305 

and  having  lost  money  by  gambling,  put  an  end  to  his  life  by 
taking  arsenic. 

May  12.  Called  with  Dr.  McCartee  to  see  a  dropsical  patient 
in  a  very  respectable  family.  He  had  been  consulting  some  native 
doctors,  one  of  whom  thought  he  had  within  him  some  clotted 
horse  blood,  which  had  feet  and  could  walk ;  and  the  only  way  in 
which  the  clot  of  blood  could  be  killed,  was  by  taking  internally  a 
prescription  so  indecent  that  it  cannot  be  published.  This  he  had 
done,  but  unsuccessfully.  He  had  also,  at  the  recommendation  of 
another  physician,  eaten  a  toad,  but  with  equal  want  of  success. 
He  was  now  so  far  gone  that  but  little  hope  of  his  recovery  re- 
mained. After  talking  some  time  with  his  parents  and  brothers, 
who  were  very  agreeable  people,  and  being  peeped  at  by  his  sisters, 
who  were  not  allowed  by  Chinese  etiquette  to  come  into  the  same 
room,  we  came  away. 

May  13.  Engaged  a  teacher  to-day,  Hung  seen  sang.  He  ia 
forty-nine  years  old,  has  the  degree  of  kung  sang,  or  bachelor  of 
arts  advanced,  wears  spectacles,  being  near-sighted,  has  already 
gray  and  almost  white  hairs,  and  on  the  whole  promises  well, 
though  he  is  not  as  much  of  a  talker  as  I  could  wish. 

A  young  man  from  Shensi  province,  connected  with  the  Taou- 
tai's  office,  came  to-day  for  medicine  to  cure  him  of  opium  smoking. 
Speaking  of  the  effects  of  smoking,  he  said  it  gave  him  pains  in 
the  head,  and  made  him  stupid ;  but  he  could  not  do  without  it. 
When  he  smoked,  he  was  revived  for  a  while,  "just  like  winding 
up  a  clock ;"  but  he  soon  ran  down  again,  and  was  worse  than 
ever.  He  seemed  intelligent,  and  received  Christian  books  with 
much  politeness. 

May  14.  A  wet,  rainy  day.  In  the  evening  Dr.  McCartee  was 
called  in  a  great  hurry  to  see  a  man  who  had  poisoned  himself  by 
taking  orJium.  On  going  to  the  house,  found  the  family  in  much 
alarm.  The  man  was  in  bed,  looking  very  stupid,  and  his  wife 
attending  him  with  some  appearance  of  anxiety  and  care.  He 
had  had  a  quarrel  with  his  mother-in-law,  and  in  revenge  attempt- 
ed to  make  away  with  himself  by  taking  opium.  There  was, 
however,  some  reason  to  suppose  that  it  was  partly  a  feint  to 
frighten  the  old  woman,  and  after  an  emetic  being  given,  we  came 
away.  The  Chinese  have  but  little  to  deter  them  from  the  com- 
mission of  suicide,  for  they  have  very  faint  ideas  of  a  future  state, 
or  of  punishment  beyond  the  grave. 

May  17.  A  great  Hwuy,  or  festival  of  Too-shin,  all  the  gods, 
has  been  celebrated  for  the  last  day  or  two.  Saw  a  part  of  the 
procession  to-day,  though  the  narrow  crowded  streets  gave  but  a 
poor  opportunity  of  seeing  the  different  parts.  There  were  innu- 
merable lanterns,  three  or  four  gaily  ornamented  dragons,  a  boat 
several  chairs,  idols,  little  boys  carried  on  men's  shoulders,  ana 
various  other  sights.  The  most  interesting  were  several  gaily 
dressed  girls,  who  seemed  to  be  standing  on  almost  nothing  at  all 
One  girl  standing  on  a  chariot,  carried  a  branch  of  a  tree  carelesa- 

20 


306  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

»•' 

ly  on  her  shoulder :  on  one  of  the  twigs  of  the  branch  stood  a  little 
girl,  on  one  foot,  with  the  other  in  the  air.  Another  girl  held  up 
in  her  hand  a  plate  of  cakes,  and  a  smaller  girl  stood  with  one 
foot  on  the  cakes,  and  was  thus  borne  along.  Of  course  all  this 
was  done  by  means  of  iron  or  brass  supporters  around  their  bodies. 
The  crowd  of  people  was  immense,  and  numerous  policemen 
seemed  to  be  busy,  or  rather  to  make  themselves  busy,  for  I  never 
saw  so  large  a  crowd,  and  so  little  disorder. 

It  was  a  curious  sight  to  look  over  the  crowd  and  see  the  forest 
of  pipe-stems.  Nearly  everybody  carries  a  pipe  with  a  stem  from 
two  to  four  feet  long,  and  when  held  up  to  keep  them  out  of  harm's 
way,  they  looked  like  a  forest  of  small  sticks,  or  perhaps  like  a 
cane-brake  stripped  of  its  leaves. 

May  19.  The  ditch  along  the  southern  side  of  the  monastery 
being  nearly  dry,  some  boys  made  arrangements  to  catch  the  fish. 
They  dammed  up  a  part  of  the  ditch  at  a  time,  and  having  emp- 
tied the  water  out  of  it,  by  groping  among  the  stones  and  black 
mud  at  the  bottom,  they  procured  quite  a  handsome  mess  of  fish, 
from  three  to  seven  inches  long.  There  are  numerous  canals  in 
the  city  which  abound  with  fish,  as  do  the  rivers  and  streams 
without.  Most  of  the  canals  in  the  city  are  navigable  for  small 
boats,  but  so  narrow,  that  two  boats  can  pass  only  at  certain 
places.  They  connect  with  the  moat  and  canals  outside  by  two 
water-gates,  one  of  which  is  near  the  gate  of  the  Etherial  Bridge, 
and  the  other  near  the  west  gate.  In  them  the  lower  order  of  the 
people  wash  all  their  dirty  vessels,  they  also  wash  their  clothes, 
and  the  rice  they  eat,  and  they  also  wash  their  own  bodies  ;  con- 
sequently they  are  not  always  very  clean,  and  must  prove  un- 
wholesome in  summer. 

May  21.  Having  occasion  to  be  out  at  a  prayer-meeting  until 
after  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  we  found  the  north  gate  closed 
on  our  return.  It  is  closed  sooner  than  the  other  gates,  being  less 
of  a  thoroughfare:  they  are  commonly  open  till  nine  or  ten  o'clock. 
A  present  of  a  hundred  cash  (about  nine  cents)  to  the  gate-keeper, 
opened  it  for  us.  A  Chinaman  gets  it  opened  for  sixty  cash,  but 
we  have  to  pay  more.  Sometimes  the  officers  of  the  city  seal  the 
gates  at  night,  by  pasting  a  strip  of  paper  across  them,  and  then  it 
is  more  difficult  to  get  in  or  out. 

May  27.  It  is  amusing  to  observe  the  commotion  excited  by  the 
appearance  of  a  foreigner  in  the  retired  parts  of  the  city,  where 
few  have  yet  wandered.  Every  one  cries  out,  "  Hung  ma  nying  ! 
hung  ma  nying !"  a  red-haired  man  !  a  red-haired  man !  this 
being  the  name  for  all  foreigners.  The  women  and  children 
scatter  in  all  directions ;  the  men  stare  and  gaze,  or  pass  their 
comments,  as  the  fancy  strikes  them.  It  is  melancholy  to  witness 
the  fear  of  foreigners  that  still  exists,  especially  on  the  part  of  the 
women  and  children.  Some  of  the  men  look  as  if  they  would  be 
glad  to  hide,  and  if  you  look  at  them,  seem  ready  to  sink  into  the 
ground.  Commonly,  however,  this  fear  is  giving  way  to  curiosity  j 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  307 

and  nothing  is  more  common  than  for  those  who  see  the  stranger 
to  beckon  to  the  women  to  come  and  have  a  look  also.  One  little 
boy,  in  his  haste  to  do  this,  dropped  his  basket,  overturned  his 
playfellow,  and  running  to  the  door,  clapped  his  hands  and  called 
out,  "  Here's  a  red-haired  man  !  come  !  quick,  quick,  quick  !"  The 
titles  they  give,  and  the  remarks  they  make,  are  sometimes  amus- 
ing, and  sometimes  provoking.  "  Mantele  !"  for  mandarin.  "  Wailo 
fuhke,  wailo  !"  Be  off  with  you !  <;  Lailo  !"  Come  here.  "  Hung 
ma  nying  !"  are  the  common  terms;  and  sometimes  "Pah  kwei," 
and  "Kwei  tsz  "white  devil,  and  devil's  child!  Some  few,  on 
the  other  hand,  are  polite  enough  to  say,  "  Hungma  seen  saung," 
foreign  teacher ;  and  the  beggars  say,  "  Hungma  laou  yay,"  for- 
eign esquire. 

The  sun  is  sometimes  called  Kin  woo,  or  "  golden  crow,"  from 
its  spots,  which  are  thought  to  be  crows ;  and  the  moon  is  called 
the  Yuh  too,  or  "jewelled  hare,"  because  they  say  a  hare  is  distinct- 
ly seen  in  it.  Hence,  in  poetical  style,  the  setting  of  the  sun  and 
rising  of  the  moon  is  expressed  by  "  The  golden  crow  sank  in  the 
west,  and  the  jewelled  hare  arose  in  the  east." 

May  28.  The  Chinese  are  fond  of  high-sounding  and  poetical 
names  for  everything,  and  this  fancy  displays  itself  on  the  bridges, 
as  well  as  elsewhere.  A  little  stone  bridge  over  a  ditch  by  the  Yu 
shing  kwan  monastery,  is  dignified  with  the  title,  "  Bridge  of  Lon- 
gevity and  Happiness,"  and  one  at  the  west  water-gate  is  call  "  the 
Bridge  of  Extended  Virtue."  At  Shanghai,  I  saw  a  bridge  over  a 
canal  with  the  inscription,  Paou  sheukeaou,  "  The  excellent  jewel 
of  a  bridge !" 

May  29.  Went  out  with  Dr.  McCartee  several  miles  into  the 
country,  by  water  of  course.  Stopped  at  a  small  village,  and 
went  into  a  temple,  when  a  crowd  soon  came  round  us,  and  notice 
being  given  that  Dr.  McCartee  would  prescribe  for  the  sick  gratu- 
itously, a  number  of  patients  applied  for  medicine  and  advice. 
After  this  Dr.  McCartee  and  his  teacher  both  spoke  to  the  people 
on  religion,  and  were  listened  to  with  good  attention.  Tracts 
were  then  given  to  the  eager  crowd,  and  we  took  our  departure, 
much  gratified  with  our  visit  and  the  behavior  of  the  people. 

Returning,  saw  a  large  house  in  the  western  suburb  on  fire.  It 
seemed  to  be  the  family  mansion  of  some  wealthy  person  ;  but  the 
Chinese  have  little  skill  in  putting  out  fires,  and  the  owners  were 
removing  their  furniture,  and  leaving  the  house  to  its  fate.  The 
Cheheen  (mayor  of  the  city)  and  several  other  military  and  civil 
officers,  were  speedily  on  the  ground  with  their  retainers.  Being 
tired  and  hungry,  we  did  not  stop  to  se.e  the  end,  but  were  inform- 
ed that  by  breaking  down  parts  of  the  adjoining  nouses,  the  flames 
were  prevented  from  spreading. 

May  30.  Spent  part  of  the  day  in  visiting  acquaintances  among 
the  Chinese,  then  went  to  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Lin,  to  see  his 
garden,  which  is  spoken  of  as  very  fine ;  but  were  rather  disap- 
pointed, as  it  had  nothing  remarkable  in  it.  While  in  the  garden 


308  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER   M.    LOWRIE. 

Mr.  Lin  came  out  to  see  us,  and  politely  took  us  over  his  house 
which  is  large,  airy,  and  well  furnished.  He  had  some  six  01 
eig*ht  large  clocks  of  European  manufacture,  but  all  out  of  order, 
with  numerous  beautiful  scrolls  of  writing  and  painting.  His 
father  left  him  a  fortune  of  some  three  hundred  thousand  taels, 
(over  four  hundred  thousand  dollars,)  but  his  extravagance  has 
diminished  it  to  one  hundred  thousand.  He  smokes  opium  freely, 
and  looks  sallow  and  thin.  Some  friends  were  with  him  at  the 
time,  and  he  had  an  opium  pipe,  and  lamp  burning  in  the  room  to 
which  he  led  us.  This  opium  is  the  curse  of  China.  It  is  drain- 
ing out  their  money  from  the  land,  sucking  the  heart's  blood  of 
their  industry,  and  destroying  the  constitutions  and  the  lives  of 
their  people. 

May  31.  A  good  deal  of  commotion  in  the  city  to-day,  on  ac- 
count of  the  boldness  of  a  gang  of  robbers  last  night.  They 
attacked  the  house  next  door  to  Mr.  Lin's,  which  we  visited  yes- 
terday, severely  wounded  some  of  the  inmates,  and  carried  off 
much  property.  Some  of  the  mayor's  police  went  to  disperse  them, 
but  the  robbers  attacked  and  drove  them  off,  and  escaped  with 
their  booty.  This  is  the  most  daring  outrage  that  has  occurred 
for  some  time.  Robberies  out  of  the  city  are  not  uncommon,  but 
within  the  walls,  such  daring  attacks  have  seldom  been  attempted. 

June  3,  1845.  On  Saturday,  May  31st,  Dr.  McCartee  was 
called  to  see  a  woman  in  the  country,  who  had  poisoned  herself 
by  taking  opium,  but  she  was  dead  before  he  arrived.  It  seems 
she  was  the  concubine,  or  second  wife,  and  had  a  quarrel  with 
the  first  wife,  which  led  to  her  destroying  herself.  This  evening, 
another  case  of  poisoning  occurred  but  a  few  doors  from  our  resi- 
dence. In  this  case  he  was  in  time,  and  some  sulphate  of  zinc  soon 
relieved  the  man's  stomach.  The  cause  was  a  quarrel  with  some 
of  the  neighbors. 

Yesterday  and  to-day  have  been  wet  and  cold.  Thermometer 
down  to  64  deg.,  which  is  eighteen  degrees  lower  than  it  was  the 
day  before. 

June  5.  Reading  in  the  Kea  Paou,  or  "  Family  Jewels,"  I  came 
across  the  following  sentences,  which  are  rather  remarkable.  "  If 
your  parents  treat  you  with  unkindness,  or  even  do  what  is  wrong, 
you  must  still,  with  the  utmost  quietness,  submit.  And  if  they 
will  not  hear  your  attempts  to  correct  their  errors,  you  must  not 
become  angry,  and  scold  them  ;  but  bear  it  in  silence.  For,  re- 
member, that  below  the  skies,  there  is  not  such  a  thing  as  a  father 
or  mother  that  does  wrong.  Your  father  is  heaven,  and  your 
mother  is  earth,  and  where  is  the  man  that  dares  to  contend  with 
heaven  and  earth?  Is  it  right  to  do  so?  Therefore,  it  was  well 
gaid,  by  an  ancient  sage,  'Although  a  father  should  ill-treat  his 
son,  yet  must  not  the  son  cease  his  filial  obedience.' "  The  fol- 
lowing sentence  is  equally  remarkable :  "  Let  not  your  love  for 
your  wife  and  children  prevent  your  paying  all  due  respect  to  your 
parents.  Should  your  wife  and  children  die,  you  may  yet  procure 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  309 

others  ;  but  if  your  father  and  mother  depart,  whence  will  you  re- 
place them  ?"  Kea  Paou,  vol.  i.  p.  6.  The  sentiment  of  this  last 
line  must  remind  the  student  of  history,  of  the  saying  ascribed  to 
a  Persian  lady,  whose  whole  family  had  been  condemned  to  death. 
The  monarch,  permitting  her  to  save  the  life  of  any  one  she  chose, 
she  selected  a  brother.  On  being  asked  why  she  had  not  rather 
chose  to  save  one  of  her  children,  she  replied,  "  I  may  have  other 
children,  but  another  brother  I  cannot  have." 

To-day  being  the  first  of  the  Chinese  month,  several  people 
have  come  to  worship  at  the  temple.  Several  travelling  monks 
assist  at  the  devotions.  Among  the  worshippers  were  some  re- 
spectably dressed  females,  one  of  whom  took  her  little  child,  that 
knew  not  its  right  hand  from  its  left,  and  making  it  kneel  before 
the  idol,  taught  it  to  lift  its  hands  and  worship. 

June  7.  Another  case  of  opium  poisoning  to-day.  It  was  a 
young  man  who  could  not  collect  money  to  pay  his  debts  on  the 
fifth  of  the  month,  when,  according  to  custom  here,  all  debts  must 
be  settled.  The  application  for  assistance  was  too  late,  as  he  was 
dying  when  Dr.  McCartee  reached  the  house. 

June  16.  A  visit,  from  sundry  official  persons,  and  some  schol- 
ars, to-day.  They  were  civil,  very  inquisitive,  and  not  at  all 
backward  in  asking  for  anything  they  took  a  fancy  to.  One  of 
them  requested  a  few  sheets  of  writing  paper,  as  a  curiosity,  and 
when  I  took  out  half  a  quire,  meaning  to  give  him  a  sheet  or  two, 
he  held  out  both  hands,  and  took  all,  exclaiming,  "  Oh,  thank  you, 
thank  you  !"  We  gave  them  tracts,  several  of  which  were  printed 
on  our  own  press,  with  the  Parisian  type.  They  expressed  much 
pleasure  at  the  beauty  and  clearness  of  the  type,  as  I  have  more 
than  once  or  twice  heard  scholars  do,  when  they  opened  one  of 
our  tracts. 

June  18.  An  animated  discussion  with  my  teacher  to-day  on 
idolatry.  He  is  the  most  zealous  defender  of  their  idolatrous  rites 
that  I  have  ever  met  among  the  Chinese,  and  does  not,  as  most 
of  them  do,  assent  to  everything  that  we  say  on  the  subject.  Ac- 
cording to  what  he  says,  idols  were  not  formerly  worshipped  in 
China,  nor  are  they  now,  by  the  literati,  who  pay  their  adoration 
only  to  the  souls  of  the  deified  persons,  and  not  to  the  images. 
When  pressed  in  argument,  he  admitted  that  it  was  of  no  use, 
except  to  show  reverential  feeling,  for  the  souls  of  the  idols  being 
in  heaven,  could  not  hear  or  enjoy  the  worship  paid  to  them.  At 
last  he  confessed  that  it  was  only  "  long-established  custom."  I 
rejoiced  to  be  able  to  tell  him  distinctly,  that  it  was  only  by  re- 
nouncing all  idols,  believing  on  Christ,  and  worshipping  him,  that 
any  man  could  be  saved. 

It  is  curious  to  see  how  they  use  the  same  arguments  in  favor 
of  their  worship,  which  the  Roman  Catholics  urge  for  the  adora- 
tion of  the  saints.  Among  other  things,  he  said  that  it  was  better 
to  worship  heroes,  and  such  like,  because  God  is  too  great  to  be 
troubled  with  our  prayers,  and  therefore,  we  must  approach  him 


310  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

by  means  of  persons  greater  than  ourselves.  When  asked  if  there 
were  any  good  and  sinless  men  on  earth,  he  replied  with  empha- 
sis, "  There  are  few  indeed  !"  When  asked,  "  Did  you  ever  see 
one?"  he  replied,  "Never"  At  this  point  he  seemed  to  feel  un- 
comfortable, and  admitted  that  man's  natural  disposition  is  not 
good,  though  he  was  hardly  willing  to  say  this,  without  some 
qualification. 

June  19.  Another  long  conversation  with  my  teacher,  on  reli- 
gion, in  which  I  could  not  but  admire  his  independence.  He  freely 
admitted  the  difference  between  Christianity  and  the  religion  of 
China ;  but  unlike  most  Chinese  teachers,  he  would  not  compli- 
ment me,  by  saying  that  ours  was  the  best.  He  listened  with  in- 
terest,, while  I  spoke  of  the  way  of  salvation,  through  the  suffer- 
ings and  death  of  Christ.  Oh,  that  he  were  himself  a  Christian  ! 
He  is  acute  to  detect  the  inconsistencies  of  professed  Christians, 
and  asked  some  questions  to-day,  respecting  some,  which  were 
hard  to  answer. 

The  Sz'  family  are  in  a  good  deal  of  trouble,  from  the  youngest 
brother  having  borrowed  money,  which  he  is  now  unable  to' repay. 
The  creditor  insists  on  immediate  payment,  and  the  young  man, 
in  despair,  attempted  to  kill  himself  to-day,  by  swallowing  opium. 
The  timely  application  of  remedies  saved  him  ;  but  the  whole 
family  are  in  great  distress.  By  Chinese  law,  all  the  brothers  are 
responsible  for  each  other,  and  for  the  father's  debts  ;  but  the  father 
is  not  responsible  for  the  debts  of  his  grown-up  sons. 

June  21.  Went  into  the  main  building  of  the  temple  to-night, 
and  found  all  the  monks  busy  at  their  devotions.  Some  person 
was  making  an  offering,  and  his  gifts  were  spread  out  in  order  be- 
fore the  idol.  Fourteen  candles  were  burning.  The  old  abbot 
was  beating  the  drum,  and  twelve  monks,  more  than  half  of 
whom  were  visitors,  were  chanting  from  the  Shangt eking,  or 
Classic  of  the  Supreme  Ruler.  Each  wore  a  long  yellow,  or 
orange  colored  robe,  fringed  with  black,  and  read  from  a  copy  of 
the  book  beautifully  written  with  red  ink.  They  chanted,  beat 
their  bells  and  blocks  of  wood,  knelt,  and  rose  again,  and  bowed 
their  heads.  Oh,  how  melancholy  to  see  it !  Some  of  the  monks 
were  old  and  gray-headed.  One  was  young,  with  the  ruddiness 
of  boyhood  still  on  his  cheeks.  I  thought  of  the  command,  "  Thou 
shall  not  bow  down  unto  them — "  and  my  heart  sank  within  me, 
as  the  question  rose,  "  How  long,  oh  Lord,  how  long  ?—  Will 
this  kind  go  out  except  by  prayer  and  fasting? 

June  26.  Several  conversations  with  my  teacher,  of  late,  on  re- 
ligion, which  seem  to  have  made  some  impression  on  him.  He 
was  much  struck  with  the  idea  of  missionaries  coming  here,  not  to 
make  money,  but  simply  to  teach  religion,  and  after  a  pause,  said 
seriously,  "  It  requires  great  faith  to  do  all  this.  1  do  not  think  our 
Chinese  would  do  it."  Giving  him  an  account  of  my  being  ship- 
wrecked some  years  ago,  he  was  much  interested,  and  remarked, 
"  Truly,  you  would  not  have  escaped,  if  Jesus  had  not  preserved  you.' 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  311 

July  1.  The  warmest  day  we  have  yet  had.  Thermom- 
eter at  91°  for  a  while,  and  now,  at  nine  o'clock,  p.  M.,  at  88°. 
Little  wind,  and  weather  very  damp.  It  is  what  the  Chinese  call 
the  wang  may  teen,  or  yellow  plum  season,  because  the  plums 
are  then  ripe,  when  the  atmosphere  is  so  overloaded  with  mois- 
ture, that  even  when  the  sun  is  shining,  the  stone  and  wooden 
floors  are  as  damp  as  if  they  had  but  lately  been  scrubbed,  and 
had  not  time  to  dry. 

July  3.  The  first  sentence  of  the  San  trz  king,  the  first  book 
read  by  children  in  the  schools,  asserts  that  "  man's  disposition, 
originally  good,  becomes  depraved  by  habit."  The  following  sen- 
tence, however,  from  the  Kea  Paou,  or  Family  Jewels,  asserts  a 
different  doctrine.  "  In  all  the  world  where  is  there  ever  a  good 
man  born  ?  All,  by  education  alone,  become  perfect.  Where  is 
there  ever  a  bad  man  born?  All  from  want  of  education  become 
bad.  The  gern  uncut  is  but  a  useless  gem.  To  what  purpose 
can  it  be  applied  1  The  field  unwatered  and  untilled,  is  but  a 
weedy  waste.  How  can  it  produce  abundant  and  mature  har- 
vests?" Vol.  I. 

July  6th,  Sabbath.  Greatly  disturbed  in  our  morning  worship, 
by  a  number  of  Chinese  carrying  alum,  the  property  of  a  Chris- 
tian merchant,  out  of  a  neighboring  store-room  to  load  a  ship,  the 
property  of  a  Christian  owner.  Verily,  there  is  but  little  fear  of 
God  in  the  eyes  of  many  who  do  business  in  this  heathen  land. 
Alas !  for  our  work  among  this  people,  who  know  not  how  to  dis- 
tinguish among  the  professed  and  the  real  followers  of  Christ 

Very  rainy,  damp  weather  for  some  days,  and  so  cold,  notwith- 
standing the  heat  a  week  ago,  as  to  render  thick  clothes  and 
woollen  stockings  comfortable.  But  it  is  the  last,  probably,  of  the 
cold  weather  for  a  while. 

July  10.  Warm  weather  now. 

July  15.  A  visit  from  some  inferior  officer  to-day,  who  had 
nothing  to  distinguish  him  save  a  beautiful  silk  dress,  and  long 
nails.  The  nail  of  one  of  his  thumbs  was  more  than  two  inchea 
long,  and  two  of  the  fingers  on  the  same  hand,  had  nails  nearly 
as  long. 

July  19.  Being  the  15th  of  the  Chinese  month,  there  was  a 
great  crowd  of  men  and  women  in  the  temple,  and  the  house  was 
filled  with  the  smoke  of  the  burning  incense. 

July  24.  Had  a  visit  to-day  from  a  Mr.  Lefevre,  a  French  Ro- 
man Cai.holic  missionary,  who  has  spent  five  years  in  Keangse, 
one  in  Nankin,  and  three  in  Macao.  He  seems  to  be  about  fifty- 
five  years  old,  and  is  now  on  his  wray  to  Tartary,  to  take  charge 
of  their  theological  school  at  Siwan.  He  speaks  Chinese,  the 
court  dialect,  fluently,  and  tolerably  well,  but  with  rather  a  French 
accent.  As  he  knew  no  English,  and  I  but  little  French,  we  talked- 
together  in  Chinese.  He  goes  first  to  Shanghai,  there  changea 
his  garments  and  puts  on  a  queue,  with  Chinese  spectacles,  to  con- 
ceal his  eyes.  From  Shanghai  he  goes  by  the  grand  canal,  and 


312  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

expresses  no  fear  of  being  detected  on  the  way.  Though  he 
speaks  fluently,  he  knows  but  little  of  the  written  language,  not 
being  able  to  write  so  common  a  character  as  Kung,  (noble,) 
which  he  has  occasion  to  use  every  day. 

He  speaks  in  the  highest  terms  of  Mr.  Ramaux,  Roman  Catho- 
lic bishop  of  Keangse,  and  says  he  speaks  Chinese  better  than  even 
his  own  language.  (I  have  since  heard  that  Mr.  Ramaux  was 
lately  drowned  in  Macao.  From  some  of  his  letters,  I  had  formed 
a  good  opinion  of  him.)  The  Roman  Catholics  in  China  call  their 
priests  Shin  foo,  spiritual  fathers,  and  the  bishops  C/wo  Keaou, 
lords  of  the  religion. 

July  25.  Went  into  the  temple  with  a  bundle  of  thirty  or  forty 
gospels  and  tracts  in  my  arm,  and  found  many  worshippers. 
Presently  some  came  and  asked  what  books  I  had.  On  giving 
one  away,  there  was  instantly  a  crowd  of  eager  applicants,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  all  were  disposed  of.  A  hundred  more  would 
have  been  taken,  if  I  had  thought  fit  to  give  them  ;  but  it  seemed 
better  to  stop  while  they  were  eager  for  more,  than  to  give  them 
to  satiety. 

July  28.  This  is  the  birthday  of  the  god  of  thunder,  though, 
as  my  teacher  laughing  said,  "  No  one  knows  how  old  he  is."  A 
crowd  of  men  and  women  were  in  the  temple.  My  teacher  says, 
"Most  of  the  worshippers  are  women,  who  greatly  fear  the  thun- 
der, though  there  are  some  men.  The  wdinen  like  these  worship- 
ping days,  because  it  gives  them  an  opportunity  to  see,  and  to  be 
seen  in  their  fine  clothes ;  and  most  of  the  men  who  come,  come 
to  amuse  themselves,  and  look  at  the  women."  Among  the  crowd 
of  the  common  folks,  there  were  many  men  and  women  in  silks 
and  embroideries.  Stalls  were  at  every  corner,  where  men  were 
selling  candles,  incense  sticks,  and  paper  for  offerings.  The  tem- 
ple was  full  of  smoke ;  and  the  crowd,  together  with  the  smoke 
and  the  burning  paper,  renders  the  place  almost  insupportably  hot. 
I  took  some  forty  or  fifty  tracts,  but  the  crowd  was  so  great,  and 
the  eagerness  to  get  them  so  excessive,  that  there  was  little  satis- 
faction in  distributing  them. 

In  the  Kea  Paou,  vol.  i.,  line  562,  is  this  sentence.  "Ancient 
men  have  well  said,  'A  relation  afar  off  is  not  so  good  as  a  neigh- 
bor that  is  near.'"  Almost  word  for  word  with  Prov.  xxvii.  10. 
"  Better  is  a  neighbor  that  is  near,  than  a  brother  afar  off." 

My  teacher  was  greatly  shocked  to-day,  when  I  said  that  "  Abra- 
ham was  the  friend  of  God."  "  How  can  it  be  ?"  he  exclaimed  ; 
"  how  can  a  man  be  the  friend  of  God  ;  for  a  friend  implies  equal- 
ity. Such  a  thing  ought  not  to  be  said."  These  poor  heathen 
have  little  idea  of  the  exceeding  grace  and  condescension  of  God. 
The  other  day,  talking  with  him,  he  advanced  the  sentiment  that 
the  affairs  of  the  world  to  come,  being  beyond  our  personal  obser- 
vation, are  of  no  importance  to  us ;  that  if  we  attend  to  our  own 
business  in  this  life,  the  future  may  be  safely  left  to  take  care  of 
itself.  In  confirmation  of  his  opinion  that  the  future  world  is  en- 


LETTERS.  313 

tirely  beyond  our  knowledge  and  concern,  he  quoted  the  saying 
of  Confucius,  "  Not  knowing  even  life,  how  can  we  know  death  ?" 
How  truly  it  was  said  of  Christ,  "  He  hath  brought  life  and  im- 
mortality to  light  through  the  Gospel;"  for  they  were  not  known 
before,  and  are  not  known  where  the  Gospel  is  not  heard. 


Ningpo,  April  30th,  1845. 
MRS.  C.  M.  HEPBURN — 

....  I  have  little  sympathy  for  those  who  delight  to  say  that 
our  blessed  Saviour  never  smiled,  for  when  he  "  rejoiced  in  spirit," 
and  when  he  heard  the  little  children  cry,  Hosanna !  it  seems  to 
me  as  if  a  smile,  strangely  and  yet  sweetly  blending  the  divine 
and  human,  must  have  played  upon  those  features.  How  pleas- 
ant, more  than  "pleasant,"  to  see  those  features,  once  marked 
with  the  impress  of  pain  and  suffering  and  sorrow  !  They  are 
not  so  marked  now,  for  a  glory  covers  them,  such  as  the  disciples 
saw  when  they  were  with  him  in  the  holy  mount,  and  that  glory 
I  trust  we  shall  ere  long  see. 

My  previous  letter  will  have  informed  you  of  my  arrival  at  Chil- 
ean, April  2.  I  stayed  there  a  week,  enjoying  greatly  the  scenery 
and  appearance  of  the  place.  It  quite  surpassed  my  expectations, 
and  is  vastly  more  beautiful  than  anything  I  have  yet  seen  in 
China,  always  excepting  Chang-Chow  and  the  country  around. 
You  have  nothing  at  Arnoy  or  Kulangsu  equal  to  Chusan. 

There  are  some  pious  soldiers  at  Chusan,  and,  among  others, 
I  was  surprised  to  see  Corporal  R ,  who  used  to  be  such  a  con- 
stant visitor  of  yours  at  Ainoy.  He  asked  very  earnestly  about 
you  all.  They  all  seem  very  glad  of  Loomis's  going  there,  and 
he  now  preaches  in  the  chapel  there  every  Sabbath.  I  left  Chu- 
san on  the  10th  of  April,  and  go  there  the  next  day.  Stayed  a  week 
with  Br.  Way,  and  then  came  over  to  the  Yu-Shing-Kwan  mon- 
astery, which  is  just  within  the  north  gate  of  the  city.  Dr. 
McCartee  has  been  here  for  some  three  or  four  months,  and  I  got 
a  suite  of  rooms  just  like  his,  on  the  same  terms. 

This  is  a  very  quiet  part  of  the  city,  as  there  are  few  houses 
near  ;  the  mass  of  the  population  lies  off  in  other  parts  of  the  city. 
I  calculate  the  inhabitants  at  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand,  in 
eluding  the  suburbs  at  the  east  and  west  gates,  which  are  very 
extensive  and  populous.  .  .  . 

We  propose  observing  next  Friday  as  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer,  both  for  the  mission,  and  as  preparatory  to  the  Load's  Sup- 
per, which  I  am  to  administer  on  the  Sabbath  following.  Miss 
Aldersey  has  a  fine  girl's  school,  numbering  fifteen  pupils,  and 
sustains  herself  well.  I  hope  for  much  good  from  the  organization 
of  a  church  in  these  extreme  ends  of  the  earth.  I  trust  that  ere 
long  we  may  admit  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  place  into  our 
fellowship.  .  .  . 

May  1st.  "  The  laughing  month  of  May ;"  though  we  might  al- 


314  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

most  apply  to  it  the  term  given  to  the  following  month,  "  The  rose 
encumbered  June." 

One  of  the  monks  brought  me  a  bouquet  of  roses  to-day,  which 
I  have  arranged  in  a  tumbler  beneath  my  looking-glass.  I  have 
been  busy  fitting  up  my  rooms  to-day,  and  have  everything  now 
arranged  much  to  my  mind. 

....  I  hope  we  are  all  settled  now,  and  will  not  have  to  move 
about  any  more,  or  make  any  other  changes.  I  would  like  to  see 
you  all ;  but  when  shall  it  be  ?  As  my  sister  E.  says  in  her  last  let- 
ter to  me,  "  I  am  prepared  to  say,  I  hope  you  will  not  leave  your  field 
of  labor,  even  to  come  and  see  us."  I  am  sure  I  am  so  glad  to  be 
at  my  long-desired  haven,  that  it  would  require  no  slight  induce- 
ment for  me  to  leave  it.  How  nervous  I  used  to  feel  sometimes, 
on  my  last  trip,  for  fear  I  should  not  get  up  after  all.  By  what 
strange  ways  we  are  led  along,  and  sometimes  hard  ones  to  travel. 
"  Oh  there  are  some  rough  ways  to  heaven."  "  In  the  world  ye 
shall  have  tribulation."  So  our  blessed  Lord  himself  said. 

Friday,  May  2d.  We  have  been  observing  this  as  a  day  of  fast- 
ing and  prayer  for  the  mission,  and  also  as  preparatory  to  the 
Lord's  Supper.  We  met,  at  10  o'clock — only  ourselves — six  in  all. 
Bro.  Culbertson  conducted  the  services,  and  made  some  very  good 
remarks  on  the  duties  before  us,  and  the  disposition  we  should 
have.  I  read  a  long  letter  which  I  have  just  received  from  my 
father,'  in  which  he  gives  his  views  on  several  points  in  relation  to 
the  missionary  work  in  China.  I  wish  you  were  nearer,  I  would 
lend  it  to  you.  We  all  led  in  prayer.  In  the  afternoon  we  had 
another  meeting  at  four  o'clock,  which  I  conducted  ;  subject  of  my 
remarks,  1  Cor.  xi.  23  ;  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 
What  a  beautiful  and  forcible  passage  it  is.  The  Lord's  Supper 
was  instituted  "  the  same  night  in  which  he  was  betrayed."  Oh 
what  a  night  was  that !  It  was  the  crisis  in  the  world's  history, 
Had  our  Saviour  then  drawn  back,  had  the  cup  passed  by  him, 
where  had  we  been  ?  Earth  never  saw  a  night  like  that.  It  was 
on  that  night  that  Satan's  malice  and  man's  wickedness  rose  to 
their  highest  point ;  and  on  that  night  the  love  of  Christ  was  spe- 
cially shown  in  the  appointment  of  this  solemn  and  tender  ordi- 
nance. How  the  love  of  God  in  Christ  stands  in  shining  contrast 
with  the  wickedness  of  man  and  Satan  !  And  what  a  beautiful 
sentence  that  is :  "  Ye  do  show  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come." 
He  will  come  again  "  in  the  clouds  of  heaven."  Yea,  he  has  told 
us,  he  will  "  come  quickly."  It  will  be  "  with  power  and  great 
glory."  "  We  who  are  alive  and  remain,  shall  be  caught  up  with 
the  risen  saints  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air."  Now  we  are  expect- 
ing it.  "  We  love  his  appearing,"  is  the  characteristic  of  Christians. 

"  Let  the  vain  world  pronounce  it  shame  ! 

With  joy  we  tell  the  scoffing  age, 

He  that  was  dead  hath  left  the  tomb. 
He  lives  above  their  utmost  rage, 

And  we  are  waiting  till  he  come." 


LETTERS.  315 

Herein  is  a  beautiful  feature  of  this  ordinance.  It  was  instituted 
in  .the  time  of  Christ's  degradation  and  sorrow,  as  a  memorial  of 
the  same ;  but  it  is  to  be  observed  until  the  time  when  he  comes 
in  power  and  glory  and  joy.  Every  time  we  observe  it  we  are 
carried  back  to  the  scene  of  his  sorrow,  and  pointed  forward  to  the 
time  of  his  and  our  joy,  when  it  shall  be  said  to  us,  "Enter  ye 
into  (he  joy  of  the  Lord."  Oh  that  when  the  bridegroom  cometh, 
we  may  be  ready  to  enter  in  before  the  door  is  shut. 

Our  servants  are  greatly  at  a  loss  to  find  we  have  eaten  so  little 
to-day.  We  tried  to  explain  it,  but.  they  could  not  comprehend 
why  it  was.  I  have  a  very  simple-hearted  servant,  and  as  soon  as 
I  came  back  from  the  morning  service  he  said,  "  Mr.  Lowrie,  don't 
you  want  something  to  eat?" 

May  3.  I  have  been  witnessing  an  idolatrous  ceremony  in 
another  part  of  the  monastery  where  I  live,  which  has  made  my 
heart  sick.  The  old  gray-headed  Taou  priest  and  three  of  the 
monks  were  reciting  prayers,  beating  gongs,  cymbals,  and  the  like, 
and  bowing  before  their  idols.  A  man  had  come  to  offer  thanks 
on  the  birth-day  of  his  son,  and  the  little  boy,  six  years  old,  sat 
and  watched  the  whole  proceeding.  Who  made  me  to  differ  ? 
Why  have  I  such  glorious  hopes?  What  have  I  done  to  deserve 
them?  What  am  I  now  doing  for  him  who  died  for  me,  and 
called  me  into  the  ministry  ? 

It  is  a  rainy  afternoon.  The  sky  is  all  of  one  dull,  sombre  hue ; 
the  rain  comes  gently  yet  quickly  down  A  light  wind  blows  the 
damp  air  into  my  apartments,  and  some  noisy  birds  are  chattering 
under  the  Kwai  hwa  trees  in  the  court.  I  should  like  to  have  a 
social  chat  with  you  at  such  a  time  as  this ;  but  we  are  far  away, 
and,  moreover,  the  day  draws  to  a  close,  and  after  hearing  the  boys 
say  their  lesson,  I  must  finish  my  preparations  for  the  services  of 
to-morrow.  Oh,  how  pleasant  to  sit  at  the  Lord's  table  rather  than 
at  the  table  of  devils ;  to  hope  for  God's  favor  rather  than  that  of 
idols  which  cannot  save  ! 

With  my  love  to  your  husband,  and  to  Lloyd  and  Brown, 
I  remain  yours,  ever  affectionately, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  May  30th,  1845. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

You  will  have  heard,  ere  this  reaches  you,  of  the  departure  of 
Messrs.  Loomis,  Culbertson  and  myself  from  Macao,  and  of  our 
safe  arrival  at  Chusan  about  the  first  of  April.  Since  that  time, 
all  things  have  prospered  with  us,  and  we  have  found  much  cause 
of  encouragement  in  our  field  of  labor. 

On  many  accounts  we  thought  it  best,  that  part  of  the  force  for 
this  field  should  be  stationed  at  Chusan.  These  reasons  were,  1st 
The  importance  of  the  field  itself,  as  the  Chusan  Archipelago  is 
large  and  populous,  and  at  the  present  time,  peculiarly  open  and 


316  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

accessible.  The  inhabitants  of  Tinghai,  the  chief  city  in  Chusan 
Island,  are  commonly  estimated  at  30,000,  though  this  is  probably 
a  large  estimate.  Judging  from  what  I  saw  of  Chusan,  I  should 
think  the  population  of  the  whole  island  might  be  50,000,  and  of 
the  whole  archipelago  perhaps  100,000.  All  this  is  only  conjec- 
ture, there  may  be  more,  but  can  hardly  be  less.  This  whole 
population  is  at  present  without  the  Gospel,  as  there  is  no  mission- 
ary of  any  other  Board  there,  nor  did  we  know  of  any  likely  to  go. 
2d.  As  long  as  Chusan  is  retained  by  the  English,  it  is  a  very 
convenient  station  for  attending  to  business  matters,  a  considera- 
tion of  importance  at  the  commencement  of  a  mission  like  this. 
3d.  It  is  important  as  a  healthy  station  during  the  warm  months, 
should  any  of  us  need  a  change  at  that  time.  4th.  If  Chusan  is 
retained  by  the  English,  or  if  foreigners  are  allowed  to  remain 
there  after  it  is  evacuated,  it  will  continue  to  be  an  important  sta- 
tion, even  more  so  than  at  present,  for  most  of  the  trade  of  Ningpo 
will  then  centre  there,  and  it  will  be  an  excellent  place  to  send  off 
our  tracts  by  vessels  that  go  and  come.  5th.  In  case  no  one  is  al- 
lowed to  remain  there  after  next  January,  no  time  will  have  been 
lost ;  for  the  dialect  of  Chusan  so  much  resembles  that  of  Ningpo, 
that  a  person  accustomed  to  the  one  can  use  the  other  without 
difficulty. 

Influenced  by  these  reasons,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loomis  have  re- 
mained in  Chusan.  They  have  a  good  and  comfortable  two-story 
house  in  the  city,  for  which  they  pay  ten  dollars  monthly  rent. 
As  Mr.  Loomis  will  doubtless  keep  you  informed  of  events  there, 
it  is  not  needful  for  us  to  write  much  respecting  that  station. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Culbertson  arrived  here  the  first  week  in  April, 
and  myself  the  week  following.  We  found  Dr.  McCartee  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Way  enjoying  good  health.  Mr.  Way  occupies  a  com- 
fortable house,  or  rather  part  of  one,  at  one  hundred  dollars  a 
year  rent.  Mr.  Culbertson  has  another,  at  one  hundred  and 
twenty  dollars  a  year.  Dr.  McCartee  and  myself  occupy  rooms 
in  a  monastery  of  the  Taou  sect,  within  the  city  walls,  for  which 
we  pay  one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars  a  year.  The  rents  are 
one-half  less  than  in  Shanghai,  and  would  be  still  less  here,  were  it 
not  for  the  example  of  the  English,  who  pay  much  more  than  is 
needed.  Our  rents  are  twice  as  much  as  the  Chinese  pay. 

As  these  rents  are  moderate,  and  the  houses  are  on  the  whole 
very  passable,  it  is  a  question  whether  it  is  worth  while  to  build 
or  not.  For  the  present  we  are  not  disposed  to  take  any  steps 
towards  erecting  houses.  After  some  more  experience  we  shall 
know  better,  whether  it  is  best  to  build  houses  for  ourselves.  The 
points  which  we  shall  need  to  oe  assured  about  are,  1st.  Security 
of  title  and  good  location.  2d.  Expense  of  building.  3d.  Effect 
of  living  in  Chinese  houses,  which  are  not  made  as  we  would 
make  them,  and  which  all  need  to  be  fitted  up  at  some  expense, 
to  make  them  correspond  with  our  ideas  of  comfort,  and  even  of 
health.  The  houses  of  Mr.  Way  and  Mr.  Culbertson  are  each 


LETTERS.  317 

two  stories  high.  Dr.  McCartee  and  myself  have  rooms  both  on 
the  ground  floor  and  up  stairs,  but  at  present  we  occupy  only  the 
former.  The  general  impression  is  that  living  on  the  first  floor  is 
not  so  healthy  as  living  above,  but  Dr.  McCartee  and  myself, 
having  a  good  dry  pavement  all  around  our  house,  and  more  con- 
venient rooms,  have  preferred  the  lower  story. 

Dr.  McCartee  has  informed  you  of  his  medical  practice  pre- 
viously to  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Culbertson  and  myself;  his  proficiency 
in  the  language  is  very  creditable  indeed. 

We  have  decided  on  commencing  a  boys'  school,  as  soon  as 
suitable  buildings  can  be  procured.  There  is  no  difficulty  in 
getting  scholars,  though  there  may  be  some  in  keeping  them  ;  but 
the  whole  expense  must  come  on  the  mission,  as  there  is  no  foreign 
community  here,  who  could  contribute  anything  to  their  support 

Mr.  Culbertson  and  myself  give  our  attention  chiefly  to  the 
language.  In  regard  to  this,  it  may  be  stated  positively  that  the 
language  both  here  and  at  Shanghai  is  not  Mandarin.  There 
are  many  who  understand  it,  but  the  large  majority  do  not. 

In  Ningpo  there  are,  properly  speaking,  two  dialects,  the  "too 
hwa,"  or  local  dialect,  which  all  understand,  and  the  "Ningpo 
koon  h\va."  which  is  used  by  such  as  make  any  pretensions  to 
learning  and  refinement.  In  regard  to  the  former,  I  am  scarcely 
entitled  to  express  an -opinion  as  yet;  but  it  seems  to  me,  that 
the  body  of  it  is  Mandarin,  a  good  deal  corrupted,  while  most; 
of  the  connectives,  particles,  and  little  words  are  totally  different. 

E.  g.  for  ^  ^  Kinteen,  say  Kimmi ;  for  B^J  ^  Mingteen,  say 
Mingtseaou  ;  for  -4k  pl^f  Woteik,  say  Allah  ;  &c. 

J'^  H  v  f 

The  consequence  is,  that  a  person  speaking  pure  Mandarin 
can  scarcely  understand  them  at  all ;  but  they  can  gather  his 
meaning  in  part.  Now,  as  our  business  is  with  the  poor  and 
the  ignorant,  this  is  the  dialect  we  must  learn.  This  is,  however, 
very  difficult  to  do.  The  colloquial  is  unwritten,  i.  e.,  for  many 
of  the  words  there  are  no  characters.  Moreover,  a  teacher  of  any 
abilities  is  generally  averse  to  teaching  the  colloquial,  and  they 
are  almost  sure  not  to  give  it,  unless  you  dig  it  out  of  them. 
The  common  people,  such  as  boatmen  and  servants,  are  therefore 
our  best  resources  in  getting  at  the  colloquial ;  but  with  them  we 
are  not  sure  that  the  phrases  we  get  will  not  be  low  and  vulgar. 

The  Ningpo  Koon  Wha,  (kwan  hwa,}  is  also  a  corrupt  form 
of  the  pure  court  dialect,  but  so  different,  that  at  first  I  found  my 
acquaintance  with  the  latter  of  but  little  use.  1  can  now,  after 
more  than  a  month's  study,  understand  my  teacher  tolerably 
well,  but  not  so  well  as  though  he  spoke  the  purer  form.  It  was 
this  corrupt  form  of  the  court  dialect  which  Mr.  Milne  had  studied, 
and  that  he  had  been  studying  for  a  year  before  he  came,  so  that  his 
experience  does  not  show  what  the  true  language  of  the  place  is. 

I  am  half  inclined  to  think  it  would  have  been  more  advan- 
tageous if  I  had  studied  the  Canton  dialect;  for,  though  that 


818  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

differs  more  from  this  dialect  than  the  Mandarin  does,  yet  I 
should  have  learned  so  much  more  of  it,  hearing  it  spoken  on  all 
sides,  that  the  fluency  in  speaking  would  have  compensated  for  a 
considerable  difference  in  other  respects.  But  as  I  do  not  mean 
to  neglect  my  Mandarin,  hoping  I  may  yet  live  to  enter  Pekin, 
it  is  best  perhaps  that  it  should  be  as  it  is. 

It  is  necessary,  or  at  least  highly  desirable,  that  we  should 
acquire  the  Ningpo  Mandarin,  as  well  as  the  Too  hwa.  This  it 
is  not  difficult  to  do;  for,  while  studying  the  latter,  especially  if 
we  study  books  at  all,  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  avoid  picking  up 
more  or  less  of  the  former.  I  am  not  yet  prepared  to  say  that  the 
Ningpo  Koon  hwa  does  not  bear  the  same  relation  to  the  Too 
hwa,  which  the  speech  of  a  polished  Englishman  does  to  that  of 
a  Yorkshireman.  or  even  of  the  lower  classes  in  London.  If  this 
be  the  case,  a  question  of  some  consequence  will  arise,  How  far 
should  we  use  the  Too  hwa  in  our  prayers  and  solemn  addresses? 
For  example,  is  it  proper  for  a  person  addressing  a  congregation 
of  colored  people  in  the  United  States,  to  pray  in  the  broken 
English  which  they  use,  when  they  can  understand,  though  not 
so  well,  the  more  chastened  language  we  use  in  our  addresses  to 
the  Supreme  Being? 

I  should  be  glad  to  know  the  custom  and  the  views  of  the 
English  missionaries  in  the  West  Indies*,  or  of  some  of  the  mis- 
sionaries to  the  colored  people  in  the  south. 

You  may  think  this  is  a  degrading  comparison  to  the  Chinese, 
but  the  fact  is  that  the  educated  classes  look  down  with  great 
disdain  on  the  common  people ;  and  much  like  the  philosophers 
of  old,  they  can  scarce  conceive  what  the  lower  orders  have  to  do 
with  learning  and  science,  or  what  we  want  with  the  Too  hwa. 

Hence  if  our  tracts  are  written  in  a  plain  and  simple  style, 
the  learned  throw  them  away  as  trash  ;  but  eagerly  peruse  them 
if  \vritten  in  what  they  call  the  classic  style,  a  style  of  all  others 
most  unfit  to  teach  clearly  that  Gospel  which  is  preached  unto 
the  poor.  The  misfortune  is,  that  the  poor,  for  whom  our  tracts 
are  most  suitable,  are  seldom  able  to  read.  Readers  will  multiply, 
doubtless,  but  slowly;  and  the  impression  formed  more  than  a 
year  ago  gains  strength  in  my  mind,  that  a  change  must  come 
over  the  Chinese  literature  like  that  which  so  totally  transformed 
the  literature  of  Europe  about  the  time  of  the  reformation. 

The  difference  between  the  written  and  the  spoken  language, 
even  in  Mandarin  where  it  is  least,  is  a  serious  obstacle  in  our 
way.  As  but  little  is  known  respecting  this,  I  will  add  a  few 
sentences  explaining  it,  though  I  am  not  sure  that  I  can  convey 
a  very  clear  idea  of  what  it  is. 

The  spoken  language  of  China,  (my  remarks  are  about  the 
Mandarin,  but  they  are  substantially  true  of  all  the  dialects,)  is 
like  all  other  languages  in  the  world,  polysyllabic.  I  am  aware 
that  some  of  our  best  scholars,  with  whom  I  would  not  pretend 
to  compare  myself,  assert  the  contrary ;  but  to  me  it  seems  as 


SPOKEN   AND   WRITTEN   LANGUAGE    OP   THE   CHINESE.      3l9 

plain  as  that  two  and  two  make  four,  that  if  words  have  any 
meaning,  the  Chinese  spoken  language  is  not  monosyllabic.  For 
example,  If  I  want  to  say, 

a  thing,  the  proper  word  is  .  .  tung-se ; 

lantern  "  .  .*  tunglung; 

teeth  "  .  .  ya-ch' ; 

mouth  "  .  .  tsuy-pa; 

father  "  .  .  foo-tsin,  or  kea-foo ; 

husband  "  .  .  chang-foo ; 

a  (respectable)  woman  "  .  .  foo-jin ; 

an  axe  "  .  .  foo-tow ; 

officer  "  .  .  kwan-foo; 

deputy  governor  "  .  .  foo-yuen. 

I  believe  in  regard  to  all  of  these,  (unless  perhaps  foo-tsin)  that 
unless  one  uses  both  syllables,  he  will  not  be  understood. 

This  list  might  be  increased  to  volumes.  It  is  not  meant  that 
these  are  the  only  words  used,  but  they  are  the  common  ones; 
nor  that  there  are  not  many  monosyllables,  just  as  there  are  in 
English.  In  consequence  of  this  fact,  that  the  spoken  language 
is  not  monosyllabic,  it  would  be  perfectly  easy  to  write  it  with 
Roman  characters ;  and  there  would  be  no  more  danger  of  mis- 
taking the  meaning  than  there  is  in  English.  In  consequence  of 
this  also,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  we  should  learn  to  speak 
faster  and  better,  by  not  attempting  the  Chinese  characters  at  all, 
at  first ;  and  were  my  missionary  life  to  be  gone  over,  I  would  do 
so.  It  is  the  way  the  Roman  Catholic  missionaries  do.  So  much 
for  the  spoken  language.  This  is  not  the  first  time  I  have  ex- 
pressed these  views. 

Now  in  regard  to  the  written  language,  the  case  is  very  different. 
There  are  a  vast  number  of  characters,  and  most,  not  all,  of  them 
are  complete  in  themselves ;  the  sound  of  many  of  them  is  alike, 
but  their  shape  and  meaning  are  different.  See  them,  and  you 
know  at  once  what  they  mean.  Hear  them,  and  the  first  Hanlin 
in  the  empire  cannot  tell  you. 

For  example,  you  will  have  seen  in  the  foregoing  list,  how  often 

the  syllable  foo  occurs.  There  is  ^V  foo,  a  father ;  y^  foo,  a 
husband  ;  Jffi  foo,  an  officer ;  foo,  a  deputy  governor.  Look  at 
them,  and  there  is  no  mistaking  the  meaning ;  but  hear  them, 
and  you  must  hear  the  whole  word.  E.  g.  ^J  foo  becomes,  '^  00 
foo-tsin,  a  father;  4^  foo  becomes,  =jj^  ^  Chang-foo,  a  husband; 
jtt  foo  becomes,  'iff  TM-  Kwan-foo,  a  Magistrate ;  :JJ|  foo  be- 
comes :j4  [f£  foo-yuen,  Deputy-Governor.  There  is  no  more 
danger  of  mistaking  the  meaning  when  you  hear  the  second,  than 
there  is  when  you  see  the  first.  But  in  writing,  which  is  intended 
to  meet  the  eye,  there  is  no  occasion  to  write  both  characters,  as 


320  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIB. 

one  conveys  at  a  glance  all  that  is  wanted,  provided  you  only 
know  it.  Hence  in  writing,  commonly  only  one  character  of  the 
compound  word  is  written;  and  the  man  who  reads  aloud,  in  or- 
der that  others  may  understand,  supplies  the  additional  syllable 
as  he  goes  along.  E.  g.  If  a  man  in  reading  was  simply  to  read 
foo,  and  some  one  of  the  hearers  was  at  a  loss  as  to  the  meaning, 
he  would  say,  Chay  Ting,  Shi  Shih  yin  Foo  Tsze,  "what  foo 
character  is  that?"  And  the  only  reply  would  be,  Foo-Tsin,  Teih 
Foo.  "  The  foo  in  <  footsin,' "  or,  Kwan  Foo,  Teih  Foo.  "  The 
foo  in  Kwan/oo."  I  have  heard  such  expressions  hundreds  of 
times. 

Here  then  is  the  radical  difference  between  the  written  and 
spoken  language.  The  classical  style  abbreviates  as  much  as 
possible,  using  only  one  syllable,  whenever  that  one  will  convey 
the  meaning  to  the  eye.  The  intermediate  style  is  not  so  very 
close  ;  and  the  Seaou  IShwo,  or  vulgar  style,  approaches  closely 
to  the  spoken  language,  in  using  very  often  both  the  characters 
that  form  a  word.  But  a  scholar  will  scarcely  degrade  himself  by 
writing,  and  never  by  praising  such  a  style. 

When  a  boy  goes  to  school,  the  first  thing  he  does  is  to  learn 
the  names  of  the  characters,  but  not  their  meaning.  Five  years 
are  spent  at  this,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time,  he  can  perhaps  re- 
peat the  whole  of  the  Four  Books,  without  knowing  the  meaning 
of  a  solitary  character.  Then  the  characters  are  explained  to 
him.  The  teacher  takes  the  Four  Books,  or  some  other  volume, 

and  goes  over  each  character  one  by  one.  "  This  •£/  foo  char- 
acter is  the  character  for  father — i.  e.  Foo-tsin."  "This  thp  foo 
character  is  the  character  for  officer — i.  e.  Kwan-foo."  "  This  ^~ 
foo  character  is  the  character  for  husband,  Chang-foo  ;"  and  so  he 
goes  on;  explaining  in  the  colloquial,  which  of  course  the  boy  knows, 
the  meaning  of  the  written,  which  he  can  repeat,  but  does  not 
understand.  There  are  a  vast  number  of  persons  whose  educa- 
tion is  not  finished,  i.  e.,  who  can  read,  but  not  understand.  If 
you  see  a  boy  reading,  you  may  almost  take  it  for  granted,  that 
he  does  not  know  the  meaning  of  what  he  reads.  Dr.  McCartee  has 
three  boys,  aged,  one  sixteen  years,  and  the  others  fourteen  and  fif- 
teen, all  of  whom  can  read,  and  the  two  elder  can  write  beautifully; 
but  nearly  all  they  know  of  the  meaning  of  the  characters,  they 
have  learned  within  the  last  six  months  ;  and  though  they  know 
the  names  of  far  more  characters  than  I  do,  1  doubt  whether  they 
understand  half  as  many. 

This  difference  between  the  written  and  spoken  dialects  is  the 
radical  one.  There  are  others,  however,  not  less  perplexing.  The 
greatest  is,  the  pedantry  of  the  Chinese,  which  is  incomparably 
worse  than  Dr.  Johnson's,  and  has  nothing  of  his  powerful  intel- 
lect and  varied  intelligence  to  render  it  tolerable.  High-flown  ex- 
pressions are  employed,  and  most  laboriously  concise  sayings, 
coveriug  as  common-place  thoughts  as  you  will  meet  with  in  the 


LETTERS — NINGPO.  321 

essays  of  a  village  newspaper.  For  example,  there  is  the  first 
sentence  from  the  Shang-Lun,  or  Sayings  of  Confucius, — Tse 
yue,  heo  wrh  she  seih  che  poo  yih  shwo  hoo  ?  "  The  philoso- 
pher says,  To  learn,  and  times  to  practise  it,  not  also  gratifying, 
eh?"  Yue  pang  tsuh  yuen  fang  tae  poo  yih  yo  hoo,  "To  have 
friends  from  distant  places  come,  not  also  joyful,  eh?"  gin  poo 
che  urh  poo,  poo  yeh  ke  tse  hoo  ?  "  Men  not  know,  yet  not 
be  displeased,  not  also  a  worthy  man,  eh  ?"  The  above  is  literal : 
here  is  the  meaning.  "  Confucius  says,  '  That  men  should  learn 
what  is  virtuous,  and  constantly  practise  the  same,  is  not  this  grat- 
ifying ?  That  persons  of  the  same  sentiments  with  myself,  should 
come  to  me  from  a  distant  place  to  learn,  is  not  this  a  cause  of 
joy  ?  But  for  men  to  be  ignorant  of  the  virtues  of  another,  and 
he,  notwithstanding,  be  perfectly  satisfied,  and  careless  of  applause 
on  account  of  his  merits,  is  he  not  a  worthy  prince  indeed?'"  But 
I  have  written  more  than  I  meant  to  do,  and  fear  you  are  as  tired 
as  I  am  myself.  This  subject  may  therefore  pass,  unless  you  write 
for  more  particulars. 

The  city  of  Ningpo  lies  nearly  in  the  centre  of  a  large  plain,  sur- 
rounded on  all  sides  by  mountains,  and  intersected  by  innumerable 
canals,  which  are  nearly  all  navigable,  and  serve  the  double  pur- 
pose of  irrigation  and  travelling.  A  covered  boat  and  boatmen 
can  be  had  for  a  whole  day  for  twenty-five  cents,  and  whenever 
we  want  to  extend  our  ramble  any  distance  beyond  the  city,  we 
find  it  most  convenient  to  make  use  of  them.  The  plain  is  at 
least  twenty  miles  in  diameter  in  its  narrowest  part,  and  much 
wider  in  other  places.  The  whole  of  this  great  amphitheatre  is 
thickly  studded  over  with  villages  and  farm-houses,  and  has  two 
or  three  large  cities  besides  Ningpo.  Foreigners  are  not  allowed 
to  wander  beyond  the  keen,  or  district  of  which  Ningpo  is  the  cap- 
ital. Its  exact  dimensions  we  do  not  well  know,  but  we  can  go 
at  least  three  miles  on  every  side,  and  in  one  direction  as  many 
as  twenty  or  thirty.  By  a  little  prudence  and  care,  we  shall 
doubtless  obtain  a  wider  range  for  our  excursions.  For  the  pres- 
ent, unable  as  we  are  to  speak  with  fluency,  the  field  is  vastly 
larger  than  we  can  profitably  occupy;  and  whenever  we  can 
speak  well,  we  doubt  not  the  door  will  be  opened  wider.  Should 
it  not  be  opened,  the  question  will  arise,  whether  obedience  to  a 
higher  authority  and  covenant  than  any  of  human  devising,  will 
not  justify  us  in  exceeding  the  limits  that  have  been  fixed,  and 
preaching  in  other  cities  the  Kingdom  of  God.  On  this  point  there 
is  some  diversity  of  opinion  amongst  us  ;  but  I  am  disposed  to 
think  that  a  blessing  would  attend  our  efforts,  if  carried  on.  occa- 
sionally at  least,  where  the  prince  of  this  world  now  exercises  su- 
preme authority.  Opposition  and  excitement  on  the  part  of  the 
rulers  would  but  rouse  attention  to  our  work.  But  it  may  be 
thought  that  this  is  looking  too  far  ahead. 

The  foreign  trade  of  Ningpo  is  not  so  great  as  it  once  was.  It 
once  carried  on  an  important  commerce  with  Manila,  when  South 

21 


322  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

America  belonged  to  Spain,  as  well  as  with  other  parts  of  the 
Chinese  Empire.  But  of  late  years  Shanghai  has  greatly  sur- 
passed it,  and  the  latter  city  is  likely  to  possess  by  much  the  lar- 
gest share  of  trade  with  western  lands.  When  the  treaty  wa? 
formed  in  1842,  it  was  supposed  by  Sir  Henry  Pottinger,  Mr.  Mor- 
rison, and  nearly  every  other  person,  that  Ningpo  would  be  the 
most  important  of  the  five  ports  ;  but  it  has  been  found,  that  the 
vicinity  of  Shanghai  to  the  City  of  Loochow,  and  to  the  grand 
canal,  give  it  great  advantages  over  any  of  the  other  ports.  The 
best  days  of  Ningpo  are  probably  past,  and  painful  evidences  of 
decay  are  visible  on  all  sides.  Still  it  has  a  considerable  trade  with 
Fuhkeen.  and  with  the  northern  provinces ;  and  numerous  junks 
are  constantly  lying  in  the  river.  It  offers  more  advantages  to 
Americans  than  to  the  English,  as  it  lies  nearer  to  the  green  tea 
district,  and  offers  a  good  market  for  the  sale  of  American  manu- 
factured goods. 

The  people  are  as  civil  and  obliging  as  could  reasonably  be  ex- 
pected, considering  the  severe  and  uncalled  for  treatment  they  re- 
ceived during  the  war,  and  the  thoughtless  course  of  some  of  the 
English  officers,  in  destroying  the  public  buildings  for  firewood. 
We  are  better  treated  here,  by  far,  than  a  Chinaman  would  be  in 
New  York  or  London ;  though  it  does  occasionally  ruffle  one's 
temper  to  hear  himself  called  a  pah-kwei,  or  white  devil,  with  some 
other  such  choice  epithets.  So  far  as  I  have  seen,  there  is  little 
difference  between  this  place  and  Shanghai  in  that  respect ;  and 
the  difference  in  favor  of  this  place,  which  was  observed  not  long 
ago,  was  probably  owing  to  the  fear  of  foreigners  then  fresh  in 
mind,  but  now  wearing  off. 

We  have  lately  organized  a  church  here,  under  the  title,  "  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Ningpo,"  of  which  Mr.  Culbertson  has  been 
elected  pastor.  It  consists  of  seven  members,  to  wit :  D.  B. 
McCartee,  Hingapoo,  a  Chinese  servant  of  Mr.  Way's,  together 
with  Mrs.  Way,  Mrs.  Culbertson,  Miss  Aldersey,  Ruth  Ati,  and 
Christiana  Kit.  The  two  latter  are  Chinese  girls  whom  Miss 
Aldersey  has  educated,  and  who  were  baptized  by  Mr.  Med hurst  in 
Java.  Dr.  McCartee  was  elected  ruling  elder,  and  Mr.  Way  and 
myself  also  act  as  ruling  elders  for  the  time  being.  The  church 
was  regularly  organized  on  the  18th  inst.,  when  Mr.  Culbertson 
preached  a  sermon  on  Acts  ii.  42-47,  and  Dr.  McCartee  was  or- 
dained as  ruling  elder,  with  the  laying  on  of  hands  of  the  bishop, 
and  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  from  Mr.  Wa}r  and  myself,  in  our 
capacity  as  ruling  elders.  It  was  a  good  day  to  us  all;  and 
though  the  beginning  is  small,  we  trust  the  latter  end  will  greatly 
increase.  It  is  a  day  of  small  things,  but  a  day  not  to  be  despised. 
As  this  is  the  first  Presbyterian  church  in  China,  pray  for  us  that 
the  small  one  may  become  a  thousand,  and  the  weak  one  a  strong 
nation.  . 

May '31st.  In  regard  to  the  facilities  for  disiributing  tracts  a 
good  deal  might  be  said,  but  the  nature  of  it  would  depend  much 


LETTERS.  323 

on  the  disposition  of  the  person  who  writes.  Any  number  might 
be  given  away.  I  would  undertake  to  give  to  eager  applicants 
more  than  as  many  as  our  press  could  possibly  print,  but  the  mis- 
fortune is,  that  they  would  be  just  as  eagerly  sought  after,  if  they 
were  copies  of  Paine's  Age  of  Reason,  or  any  other  book  in  the 
world.  I  think  each  member  of  our  mission  disapproves  of  indis- 
criminate distribution.  We  do  not  yet  know  the  proportion  of  the 
people  who  can  read,  though  it  is  probably  small ;  yet  we  have  an 
excellent  opportunity  here  of  circulating  tracts  and  gospels,  and 
there  is  rarely  a  day  that  Dr.  McCartee  and  myself  do  not  give 
away  one  or  more,  where  we  are  pretty  sure  they  will  be  read. 
We  regard  this,  therefore,  as  an  important  means  of  circulating 
the  principles  of  our  religion,  though  greatly  inferior  to  the  oral 
preaching  of  the  Word. 

You  have  several  times  spoken  of  the  ease  with  which  a  synon- 
ymous character  might  be  substituted,  in  case  we  could  not  make 
the  required  one  with  the  types  on  hand.  This  is  a  thing  very 
difficult  to  do ;  for  there  are  very  few  characters  indeed,  that  are 
properly  speaking  synonymous.  It  is  much  better  to  get  the  char- 
acters wanted  cut  by  the  hand,  on  metal  blocks,  which  we  can 
commonly  have  done  without  difficulty.  I  must  stop  now,  for  my 
letter  is  swelling  to  an  unreasonable  length. 

I  remain  your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  July  22d,  1845. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

....  Did  you  ever  notice  Psalm  xxx.  5.  "  His  anjjer  endureth 
but  a  moment,  in  his  favor  is  life.  Weeping  may  endure  for  a 
night,  but  joy  cometh  in  the  morning."  Is  not  that  beautiful? 
But  here  is  a  literal  translation  of  it,  which  is,  if  possible,  still 
more  beautiful  and  expressive : 

"  A  moment  in  his  anger, 
But  lifetimes  in  his  favor : 
In  the  evening,  weeping  will  abide  ; 
But  in  the  morning  there  is  shouting." 

Observe  the  force  of  the  expression.  "In  the  evening,  weeping 
will  abide."  It  "will  abide."  It  threatens  to  remain  long  with 
us ;  sorrow  seems  as  if  it  were  about  to  take  up  its  abode.  Night 
is  before  us,  and  we  see  no  sun,  no  day,  no  joy  beyond.  But  the 
night  quickly  passes,  "  as  a  dream  of  the  night,"  and  what  then  ? 
"  In  the  morning  there  is  shouting."  And  how  true  it  is.  Just 
compare  Isaiah  liv.  7,  with  2  Qorinthians  iv.  17. 

That  a  person  can  be  a  Christian,  and  yet  afraid  of  death,  I 
have  no  doubt.  Indeed,  I  suppose  most  Christians  are  so.  But 
why  should  it  be  so?  It  is  hardly  correct  to  say,  "  The  Bible  says 
'  Death  is  the  king  of  terrors.' "  Bildad  the  Shuhite  said  so,  or  some- 


324  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

thing  like  it,  for  I  am  not  sure  that  he  meant  death  by  that  ex- 
pression ;  but  if  he  did,  I  would  not  like  to  take  all  he  said  for  the 
.Bible.  The  New  Testament  does  not  so  represent  it.  It  says 
that  Christ  "gave  up  the  ghost,"  and  that  Stephen  "fell  asleep." 
The  apostle  says,  even  of  the  offending  Corinthian  Christians, 
"  many  sleep ;"  and  of  deceased  Christians  generally,  that  they 
"  are  asleep."  Asleep !  what  is  so  peaceful !  quiet  repose  in 
Christ !  how  long  or  short  it  matters  little.  Soon  the  Lord  will 
come  again,  and  them  that  are  asleep  will  he  bring  with  him. 
How  soon  ?  We  know  not ;  but  soon,  not  a  thousand  years  off, 
but  so  soon  that  we  may  not  fall  asleep,  perhaps,  before  he 

comes 

As  ever,  affectionately  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  August  2d,  1845. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

....  My  health  is  better,  so  far,  this  year,  than  any  year  since 
I  came  to  China.  Still,  however,  the  warm  weather  has  a  weak- 
ening effect,  which  we  all  feel  more  or  less.  There  is  too  in  this 
place  a  constant  tendency  to  diarrhoaa  in  summer,  which  needs  a 
good  deal  of  care  to  avoid  it.  In  another  month  the  cool  weather 
will  commence.  If  this  year  be  a  fair  specimen  of  Ningpo  sum- 
mer, I  think  there  is  every  prospect  of  good  health  here.  It  is 
said,  however,  to  be  cooler  than  usual.  .  .  . 

I  am  now  engaged  in  preparing  a  copy  of  Luke  for  publication, 
with  short  notices,  which  I  hope  will  be  ready  by  the  end  of  the 
year ;  and  perhaps  I  shall  prepare  also  Acts  in  the  same  way.  I 
am  losing  faith  in  the  doctrine,  "  The  Bible  without  note  or  com- 
ment," at  least  as  far  as  the  Chinese  are  concerned,  from  the  often 
witnessed  fact,  that  the  most  intelligent  of  them  fall  into  frequent 
and  gross  mistakes  as  to  its  meaning.  For  example,  many  think 
we  worship  our  ancestors,  because  the  Lord's  prayer  commences, 
"  Our  Father,  which  art  in  heaven."  If  we  only  had  enough  of  our 
small  type,  Luke  and  the  comments  might  make  a  volume  of 
seventy-five  or  one  hundred  pages.  With  Dyer's  type,  and  the 
Paris  type,  it  will  be  one  hundred  and  fifty  or  more,  and  conse- 
quently far  more  expensive,  and,  as  I  think,  not  so  good-looking. 
Perhaps  if  we  print  it,  we  may  get  enough  of  small  type  cut  by 
hand  to  supply  all  we  want.  This  will  be  expensive,  but  not 
much  more  so  than  to  use  so  much  more  paper,  &c.,  with  larger 
type. 

.  .  .  .  "  The  Lord  reigneth,  let  the  earth  rejoice."  His  own  cause 
is  infinitely  dear  to  him,  and  our  follies,  weaknesses,  sins,  mis- 
takes, all  things  shall  not  retard  it ;  no,  not  for  one  moment.  His 
way  may  be  in  darkness  and  storms,  and  the  clouds  may  be  but 
the  dust  of  his  feet ;  but  in  due  time,  at  the  appointed  season,  all 
will  be  plain.  Till  then,  "  Wo  unto  the  world  because  of  offences 


LEAVES    FROM    THE    NOTE-BOOK   OF   A   MISSIONARY.        326 

It  must  needs  be  that  offences  come ;"  but  I  pray  God  that  they 

come  not  from  us.     Oh  for  that  happy  time  when  they  shall  not 

hurt  nor  destroy,  nor  cause  to  offend,  in  all  God's  holy  mountain. 

Ever  affectionately  your  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


LEAVES    FROM    THE    NOTE-BOOK   OF   A    MISSIONARY. — NO.  III. 

It  is  a  fact  which  can  neither  be  denied,  nor  sufficiently  lamented, 
that  the  influence  of  nominal  Christians  in  heathen  lands  is  too 
often  adverse  to  Christianity.  It  is  not  necessary  to  refer  to  the 
countenance,  and  in  some  instances  open  patronage  which  some 
Christian  governments  have  given  to  idolatry,  nor  to  their  exces- 
sive scruples,  lest  their  subjects  should,  in  the  slightest  degree,  in- 
terfere with  the  religious  belief  or  the  prejudices  of  the  heathen, 
while  equally  reprehensible  interference  with  their  social  customs 
and  laws  and  feelings  are  overlooked  and  neglected.  Of  the  mass 
of  nominal  Christians  in  heathen  lands,  it  must  be  said,  that  while 
often  retaining,  in  a  high  degree,  the  character  of  gentlemen,  up- 
right as  men  of  business,  and  most  obliging  in  their  deportment  to 
strangers,  they,  with  few  exceptions,  drop  that  of  a  Christian.  To 
do  business  on  the  Sabbath,  in  many  places,  is  so  common,  that  it 
is  the  rule  rather  than  the  exception.  In  a  frequented  port  I  have 
noticed  that  more  ships  were  sent  to  sea  on  the  Sabbath,  than  on 
any  other  day  of  the  week ;  and  I  have  heard  it  said  in  reference 
to  this,  "  the  better  day  the  better  deed  !"  while,  with  very  many, 
the  Sabbath  is  the  day  for  visiting  and  amusement.  Where  there 
is  divine  service  in  English,  a  part  of  the  community  attend,  and 
generally  give  a  most  respectful  attention  ;  but  the  large  majority 
are  never  seen  in  a  house  of  worship,  even  where  they  have  the 
means  of  easiest  access  to  it.  Of  profane  swearing,  and  of  some 
vices  of  which  it  is  a  shame  even  to  speak,  it  is  not  my  purpose 
now  to  write  anything,  nor  to  add  more  on  this  topic  than  this : 
that  far  too  commonly,  even  where  there  is  nothing  outwardly  in- 
correct, the  heathen  would  never  suspect  that  those  coming  from 
Christian  lands  had  any  more  religion  than  a  Mohammedan,  or  a 
Parsee,  or  an  infidel. 

But  though  a  regard  to  truth  requires  these  melancholy  facts  to 
be  stated,  it  equally  requires  to  be  made  known  that  there  are 
some  bright  and  honorable  exceptions.  There  are  few  places 
where  any  number  of  foreign  residents  are  collected,  where  there 
are  not  a  few  who  are  "clothed  in  white ;"  and  were  it  proper  to 
do  so,  the  writer  of  this  article,  and  perhaps  nearly  every  mission- 
ary, could  speak  of  "  honorable  men  and  devout  Women,"  who  are, 
in  their  appropriate  spheres,  lights  to  the  heathen,  and  examples 
to  their  own  countrymen.  Without  speaking  of  any  who  are  now 
living,  or  betraying  the  confidence  reposed  in  me  by  those  who  are 
dead,  I  wish  to  trace  a  few  lines  respecting  one  witn  whom  I  spent 


326  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

many  a  pleasant  hour,  which,  while  they  confirm  the  statements 
just  made,  will  give  another  evidence  of  the  incidental  benefits  of 
missionary  operations. 

During  the  greater  part  of  my  residence  in ,  there  was  no 

other  clergyman  there,  and,  as  there  was  a  small  number  of  Eng- 
lish and  American  residents,  several  of  whom  had  their  families 
with  them,  I  was  in  the  habit  of  conducting  divine  service  on  the 
Sabbath  morning,  with  some  occasional  meetings,  and  also  admin- 
istering the  Lord's  Supper  once  a  month.  The  number  of  attend- 
ants on  the  Sabbath  varied  from  twenty  to  fifty,  (there  were  one 
hundred  and  fifty  who  might  have  attended),  and  from  six  to 
twelve  sat  down  at  the  Lord's  table.  Among  the  constant  attend- 
ants was  a  lady  with  whom  I  became  slightly  acquainted,  and 
whose  earnest  attention  to  the  word  preached,  was  such  as  I  have 
seldom  seen  equalled.  Of  a  sweet  disposition  and  polished  man- 
ners, she  was  a  general  favorite,  and  had  so  many  visitors,  that  it 
was  seldom  possible  for  me  to  see  her  alone  ;  and  this,  joined  to 
an  exceeding  diffidence  to  speak  on  religious  subjects,  prevented 
me,  for  a  long  time,  from  forming  much  acquaintance  with  her, 
or  seeing  fully  the  character  of  her  piety.  She  was  a  member  of 
an  evangelical  church  in  her  own  land,  and,  maintaining  a  con- 
sistent deportment,  she  commonly  met  with  us  when  the  Lord's 
Supper  was  administered.  On  one  occasion,  however,  she  declined 
coming,  without  assigning  any  reason,  and  on  the  next  occasion 
did  the  same.  Not  feeling  that  I  possessed  the  pastor's  right  to 
inquire  into  the  matter,  nor  being  sufficiently  acquainted  to  do  it 
as  a  friend,  I  was  at  some  loss  what  to  do,  and  even  wronged  her 
so  much  as  to  think  that  her  refusal  to  come  might  have  proceed- 
ed from  improper  motives.  After  waiting  several  months,  and  ob- 
serving no  change  in  her  consistent  deportment,  nor  her  attention 
to  the  ordinances  of  the  sanctuary,  it  seemed  a  duty  to  see  her, 
and,  if  in  my  power,  to  assist  her.  But  the  place  was  then  full  of 
visitors ;  and  after  some  ineffectual  attempts  to  see  her  alone,  I 
wrote  her  a  note,  urging  on  her  the  importance  and  benefit  of 
meeting  with  her  fellow-Christians,  and  offering  any  assistance  or 
instruction  in  my  power.  An  immediate  answer  was  returned, 
on  the  perusal  of  which  it  was  difficult  to  refrain  from  tears.  Her 
declining  to  attend  at  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
arose  from  no  want  of  desire  to  do  so,  for  it  was  her  earnest  wish 
to  be  a  disciple  of  the  Saviour,  but  from  some  views  of  Christian 
character  and  experience  respecting  which  she  had  had  no  Chris- 
tian friend  to  set  her  right.  Being  exceedingly  afraid  of  death, 
she  thought  this  a  proof  that  she  could  not  be  a  Christian ;  but 
her  whole  note  breathed  so  thoroughly  the  spirit  of  one  of  "  the 
lambs  of  the  flock,"  and  exhibited  so  many  of  the  marks  which 
are  found  in  all  true  believers,  that,  after  pointing  her  attention 
to  them,  in  answer  to  her  question,  "  Do  you  think  I  ought  to 
come  to  the  Lord's  table  ?"  I  could  not  but  reply,  "  For  you,  and 
such  as  you,  there  is  a  special  right,  and  a  special  place  reserved," 


LEAVES   FROM    THE    NOTE-BOOK   OP   A   MISSIONARY.        327 

or  something  to  that  effect.  The  answer  sent  relieved  her  mind 
so  much,  that  on  the  next  day  she  met  with  us,  and  afterwards, 
overcoming  her  natural  reluctance  to  speak  of  herself  and  her  re- 
ligious feelings  to  a  stranger,  she  frequently  applied  to  me  for 
counsel,  and,  during  the  few  remaining  months  of  my  sojourn  in 

— ,  gave  me  many  opportunities  of  assisting  her  in  her  pilgrim- 
age. It  was  delightful  to  witness  her  Christian  character  ex- 
panding, and  her  rapid  growth  in  grace  and  in  knowledge.  Timid 
as  a  bird  in  an  unknown  region,  or  a  child  that  is  but  just  begin- 
ning to  walk,  her  chief  anxiety  seemed  to  be,  to  know  and  to  do 
the  will  of  the  Lord.  Too  delicate  a  plant  to  have  braved  the 
winds  that  others  might  endure,  I  could  not  but  notice  how  the 
Lord  "  stayed  his  rough  wind  in  the  day  of  his  east  wind,"  and 
caused  the  temptations  that  fell  more  heavily  on  others  to  turn 
away  from  her.  Ever  anxious  to  know  the  truth,  she  put  many 
a  question  to  me,  which  my  own  limited  experience  scarcely  ena- 
bled me  to  answer,  while  her  gratitude  for  the  assistance  she  re- 
ceived, formed,  at  the  time,  one  of  the  sweetest  solaces,  and  now, 

one  of  the  pleasantest  remembrances  of  my  sojourn  in .     I 

never  heard  an  unkind  or  slighting  expression  from  her  lips,  in 
regard  to  any  of  her  associates ;  while  for  some,  and  especially  for 
her  husband  and  children,  her  anxiety  for  their  salvation  was 
deep  and  overpowering.  She  frequently  asked  respecting  mission- 
ary operations  among  the  heathen,  and,  when  I  came  away,  put 
a  considerable  sum  of  money  in  my  hands,  to  be  used  in  any  way 
to  facilitate  labors  among  them. 

Several  months  passed  thus  away,  and  it  became  needful  for 

me  to  leave .     She  did  not  attempt  to  conceal  her  deep  regret 

when  she  bade  me  farewell,  for,  owing  to  her  natural  diffidence, 
she  feared  that  it  would  be  long  before  she  should  meet  another 
to  whom  she  could  so  freely  resort  for  counsel.  One  or  two  let- 
ters, breathing  the  same  deep  and  simple  earnestness  in  seeking 
the  favor  of  God,  followed  me  to  my  new  place  of  residence ;  but 
ere  the  answer  to  her  second  note  reached  her,  she  was  no  more. 
A  sickness  that  she  had  foreseen,  and  from  which  she  had  scarcely 
expected  to  recover,  carried  her  away.  She  had,  all  her  life,  been 
much  afraid  of  death  ;  and  this,  as  much  as  anything  else,  led  her 
to  suspect  her  own  piety  ;  nor  could  all  my  counsels  enable  her  to 
overcome  it.  But,  as  the  pious  Bunyan  remarks,  "  The  river  [of 
death]  to  some  has  had  its  flowings  and  its  ebbings  when  others 
have  gone  over.  It  has  been,  in  a  manner,  dry  for  some,  while  it 
has  overflowed  its  banks  for  others."  When  the  trying  hour  came, 
her  gentle  spirit  was  sustained  by  an  unseen  hand  ;  and,  with  the 
utmost  calmness,  she  made  every  arrangement  for  her  departure, 
spoke  words  of  consolation  to  her  weeping  husband,  and  slept  in 
Jesus. 


328  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO. 

August  7th.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Culbertson  went  toChusan  yesterday, 
and  Dr.  McCartee  to-day,  principally  for  health.  I  am  left  alone  in 
the  temple.  Commenced  to-day  for  the  first  time  explaining  the  por- 
tion of  the  Scriptures  read  at  prayers,  and  reading  a  prayer.  Took 
the  "  Two  Friends,"  as  being  easier  for  me,  and  more  colloquial 
than  the  Gospels,  and  was  told  by  Azhik,  when  done,  that  he  un- 
derstood all  I  said.  This  was  encouraging,  for  I  spoke  "  with 
stammering  lips,"  but  it  is  likely  to  be  a  profitable  exercise.  Went 
this  afternoon  to  take  a  view  from  the  "  Teen  fung  ta,"  a  tower  of 
Ningpo ;  but  though  it  was  clear  on  one  side,  the  other  was  so 
covered  with  smoke  that  little  could  be  seen.  From  the  door  to 
the  highest  platform  are  one  hundred  and  fifty  steps,  which,  being 
about  eight  inches  each  on  an  average,  gives  one  hundred  feet  as 
the  height.  To  the  roof  of  the  highest  platform  is  perhaps  ten 
feet  more,  and  ten  feet  above  this  for  the  top,  with  five  feet  for  the 
foundation  above  ground,  gives  about  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  feet  as  the  total  height.  The  walls  are  very  thick,  at  the  top 
over  five  feet  even.  It  has  seven  stories,  each  lighted  by  six  win- 
dows, with  a  wooden  railing  in  each  to  prevent  accidents.  It  looks 
old  and  ruinous,  and  suffers  much  for  want  of  the  wooden  projec- 
tions, with  which  it  was  once  ornamented. 

The  view  from  the  top  was  magnificent,  and  in  a  clear  day 
must  be  enchanting.  The  citadel  of  Chinhai ;  the  hills  all  around, 
except  in  the  direction  where  the  plain  is  lost  in  the  sea  ;  the  nu- 
merous towns  and  villages ;  and  the  three  rivers  meandering 
through  the  plain,  form  a  scene  of  beauty  rarely  witnessed.  The 
city  and  suburbs  seem  very  extensive  as  seen  from  the  summit. 
There  are  a  vast  number  of  trees  in  all  directions,  principally  the 
small  dark  Junipers,  over  the  tombs. 

August  8.  Exhibiting  a  microscope  to  my  teacher  and  servants, 
at  which  they  were  in  great  astonishment.  The  beautiful  work- 
manship of  the  instrument  itself,  (a  present  from  a  kind  friend  in 
New  York,)  attracted  much  admiration  ;  but  its  power  in  display- 
ing minute  objects  was  a  thing  of  which  they  had  formed  no  pre- 
vious conception.  The  hairy  leg  of  a  fly  was  an  object  of  especial 
curiosity,  and  they  exclaimed  frequently,  "  Why,  the  fly's  leg  has 
hairs !  the  fly's  leg  has  hairs  !" 

The  weather  is  now  warm,  and  weakening  in  its  effects.  One's 
strength  is  easily  exhausted,  and  two  or  three  hours  of  close  appli- 
cation, either  to  the  pen  or  one's  books,  is  fatiguing. 

August  9.  A  feast  for  the  dead,  who  have  no  surviving  children 
to  worship  them,  is  just  now  (nine  o'clock,  p.  M.)  going  on  outside 
of  my  rooms.  Two  long  ropes,  with  numerous  strips  of  colored 
paper  suspended,  are  hung  along  the  sides  of  the  stre'ets,  and  tables 
with  various  eatables,  as  eggs,  water-lily  roots,  beans,  fish,  ginger, 
rice,  cups  of  spirits,  and  the  like,  are  spread  over  them.  At  one 
end  is  a  hideous  monster  made  of  paper,  and  at  the  other  a  com- 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  329 

pany  of  priests  are  performing  some  monotonous  ceremonies 
Budhist  and  Taou  priests  mingle  together  in  the  rites,  and  the 
little  children  look  on  it  as  a  great  "  raree-show."  The  object  is 
to  feed  the  souls  of  dead  men  in  this  neighborhood,  who  have 
no  children  left  to  provide  for  their  wants.  Contributions  have 
been  given  by  the  neighbors  around  to  the  amount  of  four  thousand 
cash,  and  as  all  the  expenses  will  scarcely  amount  to  one  thousand, 
the  remainder  will  of  course  fall  into  the  pockets  of  the  priests. 

It  is  now  early  harvest  for  millet  and  rice.  The  grain  is  threshed 
very  soon  after  being  cut,  and  entirely  by  hand.  Threshing-floors 
seem  unknown,  though  the  paved  fronts  of  large  old  tombs  and 
similar  places  are  often  used  for  drying  floors.  After  being  cut,  or 
pulled  up  as  the  case  may  be,  which  is  done  handful  by  handful, 
the  stalks  are  spread  out  to  dry  for  a  day  or  two,  and  then  carried 
to  the  threshing  box,  which  is  moved  from  place  to  place  as  it  is 
wanted.  This  box  is  about  four  feet  square  by  two  deep,  being 
wider  at  the  top  than  at  the  bottom.  In  the  box  on  one  side  there 
is  a  strong  frame  of  long  strips  of  bamboo,  against  which  the  heads 
of  the  grain  are  beaten,  while  a  large  mat  on  the  other  three  sides 
prevents  them  from  flying  away,  and  they  fall  down  to  the  bottom 
of  the  box.  It  is  slow  and  hard  work,  but  seems  quite  effectual. 
After  drying  this  grain  some  days  longer,  it  is  winnowed,  either  in 
sieves  in  the  open  air,  or  in  a  windmill,  much  the  same  as  those 
used  by  farmers  in  the  United  States.  After  this  the  rice  must  be 
pounded  in  mortars,  or  rubbed  between  two  wooden  grinders  to 
remove  the  husk  adhering  to  each  separate  grain.  There  is  a  vast 
deal  of  labor  in  cultivating  rice,  as  the  Chinese  do  it.  The  grain 
is  first  steeped  in  water,  then  sowed  in  nursery  beds,  then  trans- 
planted by  hand,  then  weeded,  an  operation  which  requires  men 
to  go  over  the  field  on  their  hands  and  knees,  in  mud  and  water  a 
foot  deep,  irrigated  two  or  three  times  by  water-wheels,  cut, 
threshed,  dried,  winnowed,  pounded,  winnowed  again,  and  I  do 
not  know  how  many  more  operations. 

Saturday  evening,  August  23.  A  warm  oppressive  day.  Feel- 
ing a  slight  headache  in  the  evening,  I  went  out  and  sat  down  on 
the  wall  by  the  north  gate,  to  enjoy  what  little  wind  might  be 
stirring.  Several  workmen  who  lodged  in  the  guard-house  over 
the  gate,  came  up  to  me,  and  after  a  few  questions  and  answers 
we  were  on  the  best  possible  terms.  The  conversation,  where  all 
were  in  a  good-humor,  and  all  wanted  to  talk,  was  very  mixed, 
and  sometimes  diverting  enough.  After  a  few  ordinary  phrases,  I 
began  to  find  myself  out  of  my  depth,  but  still  a  word  here  and 
there,  and  half  a  sentence  sometimes,  kept  us  going.  At  last  I 
asked  them  "  what.gods  they  worshipped  ?"  to  which  some  replied, 
"  Yuh-kwang,"  (the  Jewelled  Emperor,)  also  "  Kwan-yin,"  and  va- 
rious others.  On  this  I  remarked  that  these  were  all  false  gods, 
mere  wood  and  clay,  they  were  unable  to  speak,  hear,  see  or  walk. 
Of  what  use  were  they?  Why  should  they  be  worshipped? 
These  remarks  excited  frequent  bursts  of  laughter,  with  exclama- 


330  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

tions,  "  True  !"  ''  Just  so  !"  and  the  like.  They  then  asked  if  we 
had  no  idols  in  our  country,  on  which,  "with  stammering  lips,  and 
in  another  tongue,"  I  set  before  them  the  only  object  of  worship, 
the  true  God,  the  Supreme  Ruler  of  all,  the  hearer  of  prayer,  and 
his  son  Jesus  Christ.  They  were  astonished  when  told  that  he 
could  see,  hear,  and  speak,  and  asked  various  questions,  to  many 
of  which  I  found  it  difficult  to  reply.  On  coming  away  several  of 
them  requested  me  to  "  come  again  to-morrow." 

Wednesday,  September  3.  Dr.  McCartee  and  myself  started  on 
a  trip  of  relaxation  and  exploration,  meaning  to  visit  Teentung,  a 
celebrated  Budhist  monastery,  some  twenty-five  miles  south  of 
Ningpo.  We  engaged  a  boat  large  enough  to  accommodate  our- 
selves, with  my  teacher,  and  a  servant,  besides  the  two  boatmen. 
The  charge  for  the  boat  and  boatmen  is  about  half  a  dollar  a  day. 

The  boat  being  somewhat  slow  in  starting,  we  strolled  through 
a  large  grave-yard  near  the  landing.  Numerous  coffins  were 
lying  about  on  the  top  of  the  ground  with,  no  covering  whatever, 
and  some  were  almost  fallen  to  pieces  through  age.  There  were 
three  stone  buildings  about  ten  or  twelve  feet  square,  and  as  many 
high,  intended  for  the  reception  of  children's  bones.  One  was  the 
"  Children's  Pagoda,"  and  the  others  the  "  Boy's  Pagoda,"  and 
"Girls'  Pagoda."  Such  buildings  are  common,  for  in  China  little 
attention  is  paid  to  the  burial  of  children,  unless  they  happen  to 
be  the  first  born.  Instead  of  the  massive  coffins  in  which  the  re- 
mains of  adults  are  laid,  a  slight  box  is  nailed  together,  in  which 
they  are  deposited,  and  laid  anywhere,  until,  the  frail  structure 
having  decayed,  and  the  flesh  disappeared,  the  bones  are  collected 
and  put  in  such  buildings  as  these. 

Continuing  our  walk  through  the  suburb,  which  is  long  and 
wide,  and  near  the  city  very  populous,  we  gave  away  some  tracts, 
but  refused  many  applicants,  on  the  ground  that  they  could  not 
read.  It  soon  began  to  rain,  and  getting  into  our  boat,  we  pro- 
ceeded rapidly  on  our  way.  We  slept  rather  uncomfortably  in 
the  boat,  and  arrived  during  the  night  at  the  hills  within  six  miles 
of  Teentung. 

The  next  morning  on  awaking  we  found  ourselves  at  the  foot 
of  some  hills,  and  as  far  as  the  boat  could  go.  The  country  around 
had  an  inviting  aspect,  and  we  began  to  promise  ourselves  much 
pleasure  in  rambling  about  among  the  hills.  But  to  our  dismay, 
heavy  showers  of  rain  came  up  every  few  minutes,  and  it  soon  ap- 
peared that  there  was  small  prospect  of  getting  comfortably  to 
Teentung.  There  are  no  nice  covered  coaches  here,  nor  good 
broad  roads,  and  the  only  conveyances  to  be  had  consisted  of  open 
sedan  chairs,  in  which  ourselves,  and  what  was  worse,  our  bedding 
and  changes  of  raiment,  were  sure  to  be  thoroughly  wet.  After 
some  hesitation  we  deemed  it  best,  since  the  weather  was  so  un- 
promising, to  keep  to  the  boat,  and  instead  of  going  directly  to 
Teentung,  to  go  to  Tung-woo,  a  romantic  lake  among  the  hills, 
and  see  what  the  prospect  might  be  from  there.  The  hills  are  less 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  331 

barren  than  those  farther  south,  and  produce  a  good  deal  of  long 
coarse  grass,  and  stunted  brush,  suitable  for  fire-wood,  ("  the  grass 
of  the  field  to-day  is,  and  to-morrow  is  cast  into  the  oven  ;")  but 
they  are  scarcely  susceptible  of  profitable  cultivation.  All  the  val- 
leys, however,  which  are  large,  and  the  hollows  between  the  hills, 
which  are  numerous,  are  well  cultivated,  and  the  population  is 
great.  Villages  are  in  profusion. 

During  the  day  we  came  to  a  large  hill  of  coarse  red  sandstone, 
which  has  been  worked  as  a  stone  quarry  for  some  two  hundred 
years,  and  is  more  than  half  cut  away.  We  went  to  see  it  in  a 
driving  rain,  and  found  it  a  singular  scene.  Avenues  were  cut  in 
various  directions,  as  the  veins  of  the  stone  happened  to  be  best 
adapted  for  working.  In  some  places,  high  rocks  were  left  stand- 
ing, like  castles  towering  in  the  air,  and  close  by  there  would  be 
excavations  dug  down  in  the  solid  rock  as  many  as  twenty  feet 
and  more.  Vast  masses  of  rubbish  were  piled  about  on  every  side, 
so  as  to  render  walking  in  some  places  difficult,  while  the  driving 
rain,  and  the  wind  rushing  among  the  broken  rocks,  gave  an  air 
of  indescribable  wildness  to  the  scene.  A  number  of  men  were 
working  in  the  rain,  all  of  whom  seemed  cheerful  and  civil  enough. 
We  left  a  few  tracts,  though  there  were  but  few  who  could  read. 

Thence  we  proceeded  till  we  came  in  sight  of  Tung-woo  ;  but 
to  our  disappointment  found  the  water  in  the  canal  so  low,  (not- 
withstanding the  late  heavy  rains,)  that  we  could  not  reach  the 
lake  in  our  boat,  and  the  frequent  showers  precluded  the  idea  of 
walking.  We  turned  our  faces  towards  ^fuh-wang,  a  large  Bud- 
hist  monastery,  with  two  high  towers,  which  we  had  seen  during 
the  morning. 

We  reached  the  monastery  a  little  before  sunset,  and  found  it 
so  embowered  in  trees  that  the  buildings  were  not  visible  till  we 
were  close  to  them.  The  Budhist  priests  have  certainly,  what  is 
rather  uncommon  among  other  classes,  a  good  deal  of  taste  in  the 
selection  of  their  residences.  This  monastery  is  beautifully  situ- 
ated in  a  gorge  of  two  hills,  with  another  hill  directly  in  front. 
This  does  not  furnish  a  very  wide  prospect  in  any  direction,  but  it 
makes  the  place  quiet  and  retired.  A  brick  wall  inclosing  several 
acres  of  ground  goes  round  the  monastery.  Entering  the  main 
gate,  we  went  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  valley,  crossed  a  little 
bridge  thrown  over  the  valley  stream,  and  ascending  a  slight  ele- 
vation of  some  twenty  feet  or  more,  entered  the  buildings,  and  pro- 
ceeding through  one  or  two  large  court-yards,  were  politely  re- 
ceived by  the  monks,  and  shown  into  the  strangers'  apartments,  a 
set  of  three  or  four  rooms,  with  some  chairs,  tables,  and  bedsteads. 
Monasteries  and  temples  are  the  principal  inns  in  China,  though 
they  seldom  furnish  more  than  four  walls  and  a  roof.  The  trav- 
eller is  expected  to  furnish  his  own  bedding  and  food,  and  to  have 
some  one  to  prepare  it  for  him,  though  the  latter  service  can  gen- 
erally be  performed  for  him  by  extempore  cooks,  if  he  is  willing  to 
put  up  with  the  ignorance  of  foreign  modes  and  dirty  habits,  by 


332  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER   M.    LOWRIE. 

which  they  are  generally  distinguished.  It  is,  however,  the  safest 
and  cheapest  plan  for  the  traveller  to  have  his  own  servant  along ; 
and  though  some  good  friend  of  missions  at  home  may  ask  what 
business  a  plain  missionary  has  to  carry  a  servant  about  with  him, 
yet  such  would  do  well  to  consider,  that  here  we  have  no  comfort- 
able inns,  with  separate  rooms  which  we  can  lock  when  we  go 
out,  and  where  everything  in  the  shape  of  bedding  and  food  is 
prepared  for  us  by  attentive  landlords.  But  this  is  digression. — 
Being  wearied  by  the  confinement  of  our  boat,  we  were  glad  to 
get  our  supper ;  and  after  a  hasty  glance  at  the  buildings,  as  it 
was  now  dark,  we  soon  went  to  bed,  but  did  not  rest  very  well,  for 
there  was  an  abundance  of  fleas,  and  having  neglected  our  own 
musketo  curtains,  we  were  fain  to  use  some  we  found  in  the  mon- 
astery, which  did  not  shelter  us  perfectly  from  the  attacks  of  the 
musketoes. 

The  first  building  is  a  large  high  structure  of  only  one  story. 
Within  it  is  about  one  hundred  feet  long  by  seventy  broad,  and 
the  roof  is  supported  by  numerous  wooden  pillars,  standing  on 
stone  bases.  The  Chinese  have  not  the  art  of  supporting  a  roof 
without  using  so  many  pillars  as  to  diminish  materially  the  effect 
of  a  large  room.  The  principal  objects  in  this  room  were  three 
immense  figures,  the  Three  Precious  Buddhas.  They  were  sit- 
ting with  their  feet  drawn  up  like  tailors  at  work,  and  were  of 
immense  size.  Judging  from  the  base  of  the  seat  on  which  they 
sat,  and  which,  though  twelve  feet  square,  they  quite  covered, 
they  must  have  been  eighteen  or  twenty  feet  high,  even  in  their 
sitting  posture.  They  were  richly  gilt,  and  between  them  stood 
two  attendants,  gilt  all  over,  and  perhaps  twelve  feet  high.  They 
did  not  seem  to  have  much  worship  paid  to  them,  and  the  spar- 
rows which  had  made  their  nests  in  the  roof  above,  defiled  the 
place  with  dirt.  Behind  these  figures,  and  facing  the  other  way, 
was  the  image  of  Kwan  Yin,  "  She  who  regards  the  prayers  of 
the  world,"  sitting  on  a  horse,  (or  ass  ?)  and  carrying  a  child  in  her 
arms.  Several  attendants  stood  round  her  shrine,  which  was  al- 
together a  curious  specimen  of  working  in  clay.  It  represented 
the  sea,  with  numerous  rocks  and  islands,  over  which  she  was 
crossing  on  horseback.  Along  the  ends  and  back  of  this  building, 
sat  thirty-four  gilt  images,  each  as  large  as  the  human  figure,  with 
every  variety  of  countenance  and  dress.  In  front  of  the  door 
stood  the  most  curiously  gnarled  tree  I  ever  saw.  Its  trunk  was 
more  than  a  foot  in  diameter ;  after  rising  up  some  six  or  eight 
feet  it  bent  back  in  a  sharp  angle  to  the  ground,  and  then 
stretched  up  again,  while  its  branches  stood  out  in  every  direction. 
It  was  inclosed  by  a  stone  railing,  and  evidently  was  esteemed  a 
great  curiosity.  There  was  some  story  of  miraculous  appearances 
connected  with  it ;  but  I  have  forgotten  what  it  is. 

Directly  behind  this  building,  and  separated  from  it  by  a  large 
square  stone  paved  court,  was  another  some  sixty  by  eighty  feet 
in  dimensions,  and  in  much  better  keeping.  The  principal  objects 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  333 

of  interest  were  two  really  magnificent  shrines,  of  a  circular 
pyramidal  shape,  one  behind  the  other.  Over  the  hinder  one  an 
immense  silken  canopy  was  suspended,  lights  were  constantly 
burning  before  them,  and  some  of  the  monks  seemed  to  be  always 
in  the  building.  And  for  what,  think  you,  was  all  this  display  ? 
Because  one  of  the  shrines  contained  a  veritable  Shay-le  of  Buddh, 
taken  from  his  sacred  body  before  his  deification  !  And  what  is  a 
Shay-le  ?  On  this  point  I  can  get  but  little  satisfaction.  I  am 
told  "  it  is  neither  gold  nor  brass,  nor  stone,  nor  yet  bone  nor  flesh. 
It  is  a  small  round  thing,  about  as  big  as  the  half  of  a  pea,  and 
looks  somewhat  like  a  scab  from  a  sore  that  is  healing  up."  For 
a  "  consideration"  the  priests  will  allow  you  to  see  it,  and  if  you 
are  a  good  man,  or  likely  to  be  prosperous,  its  color  is  red,  but  if 
the  reverse,  it  will  be  black.  As  great  honors  are  paid  to  this 
valuable  relic,  as  to  the  blood  of  St.  Januarius,  and  no  doubt  the 
priests  make  much  money  out  of  it.  My  teacher,  who  has  of 
late  some  new  views  on  some  topics,)  laughs  at  it  as  an  imposition 
to  wheedle  people  out  of  their  money.  There  are  several  idols  in 
this  hall,  one  of  which  is  a  jolly  fat  old  fellow  with  a  continual 
laugh  on  his  face.  The  other  buildings  of  the  temple  have  little 
in  them  worthy  of  notice,  and  the  rain  was  so  violent  that  we 
were  obliged  to  postpone  to  another  time  our  purposed  visit  to  the 
towers  and  grounds  of  the  temple.  This  we  regretted,  as  the  two 
towers  are  each  seven  stories  high,  and  the  country  had  a  very 
pretty  appearance. 

There  are  about  thirty  monks  in  the  establishment.  Those  we 
saw  were  generally  pale  and  sickly  looking  fellows,  with  counte- 
nances betokening  very  little  mental  exertion  or  worth.  The 
routine  of  their  duties  is  such,  as  must  effectually  quench  every 
noble  aspiration,  for  it  consists  in.  an  unceasing  round  of  prostra- 
tions and  chants,  generally  in  an  unknown  tongue,  and  almost 
always  performed  without  the  slightest  appearance  of  devotion  or 
zeal.  It  is  marvellous  how  men  can  for  years  practise  such  in- 
sipid ceremonies,  without  becoming  utterly  disgusted  with  them. 
One  of  the  monks  had  deprived  himself  of  one  of  his  fingers  by 
a  very  painful  process  ;  he  had  wrapped  oiled  flax  around  it  down 
to  the  middle  of  the  joint  next  the  hand,  and  burned  it  slowly, 
another  monk  reciting  prayers  all  the  time,  till  the  finger  was 
consumed.  When  we  saw  him  the  stump  was  not  perfectly 
healed.  He  had  also  seared  the  flesh  of  one  arm  in  a  dozen 
places  with  a  hot  iron.  He  had  a  special  vow  of  abstinence  from 
covetousness,  wine,  and  lewdness,  and  these  were  the  marks  by 
which  he  made  his  vow  generally  known.  But  notwithstanding 
such  evidences,  which,  by  the  way,  are  not  uncommon,  the  char- 
acter of  those  who  bear  them  is  by  no  means  good.  The  "  for- 
bidding to  marry,  and  commanding  to  abstain  from  meats,"  by 
which  the  Buddhist  and  Taou  sects  are  distinguished,  are  followed 
by  just  the  consequences  which  all  history  teaches  us  to  expect. 

It  was  melancholy  to  meet  even  here,  with  traces  of  the  injury 


334  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

done  by  foreigners  to  our  religion.  This  temple  has  been  visited 
by  several  Englishmen,  and  some  of  other  nations,  (we  were  the 
first  American  visitors,)  and  we  had  not  been  long  there,  before 
the  monks  told  us  that  a  former  visitor  had  gone  and  bowed  down 
before  their  idols,  and  then  turning  to  one  of  his  companions,  as- 
sured the  monks  that  this  was  the  god  of  England,  and  in  their 
presence  performed  acts  of  devotion  to  him,  such  as  they  performed 
to  their  idols  !  I  give  the  story  as  it  was  told,  without  vouching 
for  its  truth.  If  it  be  true,  what  shall  be  said?  The  excuse  that 
would  be  given  by  the  persons  concerned,  would  doubtless  be,  that 
it  was  only  in  sport,  or  possibly,  to  throw  contempt  on  idolatry ; 
but  who  will  deem  this  sufficient?  You  ask  if  I  believe  the  story? 
All  I  can  say  is,  I  have  known  of  things  nearly  as  bad,  nor  should 
I  feel  surprised  if  even  this  were  true.  One  thing  is  certain,  the 
story  is  generally  believed  by  the  Chinese  who  have  been  to  the 
temple,  for  the  monks  are  fond  of  telling  it,  and  is  quoted  by 
them  as  a  proof  that  foreigners  worship  idols.  In  saying  this,  I 
testify  to  that  I  do  know. 

Having  seen  all  we  wanted,  and  being  tired  of  staying,  we  be- 
gan to  think  of  going, — but  how  to  accomplish  it?  The  rain  fell 
in  torrents,  and  the  road  to  our  boat  was  flooded  the  greater  part 
of  the  way  by  a  stream  of  water  nearly  a  foot  deep.  It  was  a 
regular  scene  in  wading,  and  might  have  reminded  one  of  trout- 
fishing  in  the  streams  in  Pennsylvania.  Getting  to  the  boat,  we 
changed  our  wet  clothes  for  others,  and  going  off  in  the  rain, 
reached  home  shortly  before  dark,  greatly  amused  and  profited  by 
our  trip,  though  it  had  not  turned  out  as  we  had  expected. 

Tuesday,  October  14.  Having  occasion  to  visit  Chusan,  started 
in  a  boat  about  midnight  and  reached  Chusan  at  one  o'clock, 
p.  M.  Asking  a  boatman  how  far  it  was  from  Chinhai  to  Chu- 
san, he  replied,  "  It's  all  by  water,  and  nobody  knows."  The 
Chinese  have  no  idea  of  any  way  of  measuring  distances  by 
water,  and  though  this  man  had  gone  between  the  two  places 
probably  fifty  times,  he  had  not  troubled  himself  even  to  guess 
how  far  apart  they  might  be.  Such,  too,  is  the  ignorance  of  even 
learned  men  in  China  respecting  Astronomy,  that  it  is  difficult  to 
give  them  any  idea  of  the  way  of  measuring  distances  by  celes- 
tial observations. 

In  walking  through  the  streets  of  Chusan,  I  was  singularly 
affected  by  hearing  a  little  girl,  daughter  of  one  of  the  English 
soldiers  now  stationed  here,  saying,  "  my  mother  wants  you  to 
come  back  directly."  The  familiar  words  and  English  accent 
spoken  by  a  young  person,  were  so  different  from  the  "  unknown 
tongue  "  spoken  by  every  one  around,  that  they  easily  transported 
my  thoughts  to  a  land  where  all  speak  my  own  mother  tongue. 
How  strangely  it  would  now  seem,  to  be  where  everybody  spoke 
the  same  language  with  myself ! 

Tuesday,  October  21.  Started  on  a  trip  to  Poo-too,  one  of  the 
most  celebrated  establishments  of  the  Buddhists  in  China. 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  335 

Having  a  fair  wind  and  tide,  the  boat  proceeded  rapidly  along 
the  southern  shore  of  Chusan,  towards  its  eastern  extremity. 
Numerous  islands,  large  and  small,  stud  the  whole  length  of  the 
island,  and  the  channels  between  them  are  generally  deep.  About 
five  miles  east  of  Tinghai,  there  is  a  small  village  called  Seaou 
Yew,  or  "Salt  Pans,"  from  the  quantity  of  salt  manufactured 
there.  The  shores  of  Chusan  for  many  miles,  and  of  some  of 
the  opposite  islands,  are  used  for  manufacturing  salt.  There  is 
not  much  level  ground,  but  much  of  what  there  is  being  low,  it  is 
covered  at  high  water,  and  after  the  tide  is  fallen,  the  mud,  satu- 
rated with  salt  water,  is  drawn  up  in  heaps,  and  the  salt  water 
oozes  out  into  large  vessels  sunk  for  that  purpose  into  the  earth. 
This  water  is  then  boiled  in  concave  iron  pans,  each  holding 
several  gallons.  The  heaps  of  earth  thus  gathered  are  often 
ten  or  twelve  feet  high,  but  the  late  long  rains  had  so  materially 
interfered  with  the  business,  that  I  was  unable  to  obtain  any 
satisfactory  account  of  the  various  processes.  Judging  from  the 
number  of  piles  of  earth,  there  must  be  several  thousand  persons 
employed  in  the  business.  The  salt  trade  is  a  monopoly  in 
China,  and  some  of  the  salt  merchants  are  among  the  richest 
men  in  the  empire. 

Poo-too  lies  east  of  the  north-eastern  extremity  of  Chusan.  Ac- 
cording to  a  Chinese  history  of  the  island,  it  is  about  a  hundred 
le,  or  a  little  over  thirty  miles,  from  Tinghai.  Having  an  unfavora- 
ble wind,  we  had  to  beat  across  the  channel,  and  did  not  reach  it  till 
after  three  o'clock,  p.  M.  Its  aspect  from  the  sea  is  but  little  more 
inviting  than  that  of  the  other  islands  around,  and  what  it  has  in 
appearance  that  is  pleasant  is  owing  to  art ;  for  excepting  the 
trees  that  show  themselves  in  the  valleys  and  among  the  rocks, 
which  have  been  planted  by  man,  it  is  even  wilder  and  rockier 
than  its  companions.  A  deep  cleft  or  valley  near  the  middle  of 
the  island  reveals  the  yellow  tiled  roof  of  one  of  the  principal 
temples,  from  a  great  distance  off,  but  the  principal  landing-place 
is  at  the  south-eastern  extremity. 

No  sooner  does  one  step  on  shore  than  he  has  evidence  on  every 
side  that  the  place  is  "  wholly  given  to  idolatry."  A  small  wor- 
shipping place  stood  close  by  the  landing ;  shrines  and  inscriptions 
were  cut  in  the  rocks  by  the  roadside,  and  a  large  red  gateway 
covered  with  tiles  announced  the  approach  to  a  temple.  Pursuing 
the  walk  a  hundred  yards  further  over  a  broad  stone-paved  path- 
way overhung  by  trees,  you  enter  the  Pih-hwa-yen,  or  "  white 
flowery  monastery."  Here  I  sought  for  lodgings,  but  the  monks 
seemed  not  to  desire  company,  and  complained  of  having  met 
such  uncivil  treatment  from  foreigners  who  had  recently  been 
there,  that  they  did  not  wish  to  see  any  more.  However,  they 
finally  showed  me  a  suite  of  three  or  four  rooms,  or  rather  closets, 
up  stairs,  of  which  I  took  possession,  and  leaving  my  servant  to 
keep  watch  and  get  dinner  ready,  I  sallied  out  to  see  what  might 
be  seen. 


336  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

The  Pih-hvva-yen  is  an  old  building  built  on  a  foundation  dug 
out  of  the  hill-side,  and  almost  concealed  from  sight  by  large  over- 
hanging trees  and  shrubbery.  It  is  now  in  bad  repair,  and  has 
an  old  and  faded  appearance.  The  number  of  monks  is  said  to 
IK-  about  forty,  but  1  saw  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve.  The  idols 
and  ornaments  of  the  temple  are  all  old  and  shabby,  and  it  has 
little  to  interest  a  visitor.  In  one  of  the  main  courts  under  the 
verandah  were  pasted  up  some  twelve  or  fifteen  large  red  cards, 
presented  by  ships'  companies  with  other  offerings  in  gratitude  to 
the  gods  who  had  brought  them  on  so  far.  Two  or  three  of  the 
vessels  were  from  Hwuy-Chow,  in  Canton,  most  of  them  from 
Chang-Chow,  Tseuen-chow,  and  Hing-hwa,  in  Fuhkeen,  and 
only  one  from  a  seaport  in  Cheh-keang.  In  the  evening  a  relig- 
ious ceremony  of  some  kind  was  performed  by  the  old  abbot,  assisted 
by  some  six  of  the  monks,  with  several  of  the  young  candidates 
for  the  Buddhist  priesthood,  some  sailors  and  myself  for  spec- 
tators. The  abbot  put  on  a  scarlet  robe  and  a  crown,  and  taking 
an  incense  stick  in  his  hand,  performed  numerous  ceremonies,  ac- 
companied with  a  repetition  of  prayers  and  chanting,  in  the  chorus 
of  which  the  other  monks  joined.  But  there  was  not  the  slightest 
appearance  of  devotion,  except  perhaps  in  the  manner  of  the  old 
abbot.  The  others,  in  the  intervals  of  the  chanting,  drank  tea, 
gazed  about,  and  talked  with  one  another,  while  the  young  can- 
didates for  the  priesthood  amused  themselves  with  annoying  one 
of  the  officiating  monks,  and  putting  balls  in  his  chair,  to  trouble 
him  when  he  sat  down.  This  called  forth  an  angry  reproof  from 
him,  and  produced  a  hearty  laugh  on  their  part.  Seeing  things 
go  on  thus.  I  gave  one  of  the  spectators  a  tract,  whereon  several 
others  asked  for  some  ;  and  finally  one  of  the  monks  left  his  de- 
votions and  came  for  one.  I  then  said  something  on  the  folly  of 
worshipping  such  idols,  and  a  hearty  laugh  followed  the  exposure 
of  the  helplessness  of  their  gods.  With  some  further  remarks  on 
the  way  to  worship  the  true  God,  and  his  son  Jesus  Christ,  I  left 
them,  glad  to  get  away  from  the  sin  and  folly  of  their  unmeaning 
ceremonies.  They  kept  them  up  with  the  beating  of  gongs  and 
drums  during  the  greater  part  of  the  night. 

From  the  Pih-hwa-yen,  a  paved  stone  walk,  some  five  feet  broad, 
extends  over  a  hill  and  down  to  the  central  valley  of  the  island, 
where  the  principal  establishment,  called  the  Seen-sz\  is  built.  On 
several  of  the  large  rocks  along  this  road,  inscriptions  are  cut  in 
large  letters,  and  shrines  are  built  against,  or  carved  out  of  the 
rocks.  At  one  place  is  a  little  shrine  with  some  characters  in  a 
language  I  did  not  know,  probably  the  Sanscrit,  and  beneath  Nan 
woo  oh  mef  to  fuh,  words  that  are  constantly  and  "vainly"  re- 
peated in  the  religious  ceremonies  of  the  Buddhists.  Several  paths 
branched  off  from  the  main  road,  leading  to  smaller  yen,  or  mon- 
asteries, in  the  recesses  of  the  hills. 

Arrived  at  the  bottom  of  the  valley,  you  pass  through  a  large 
gateway,  composed  of  four  massive  stone  pillars,  each  a  single  block 


JOURNAL    AT    TOOTOO.  337 

of  granite  about  twenty  feet  high.  Beyond  this  a  few  steps  and 
you  pass,  at  right  angles,  on  the  left  another  gateway  leading  into 
the  main  buildings.  Before  coming  to  this  gateway  is  an  inscrip- 
tion carved  in  stone  to  this  effect :  "  Every  officer,  whether  civil 
or  military,  and  all  the  common  people,  on  arriving  at  this  place, 
must  dismount  from  their  horses."  The  reason  of  this  soon  ap- 
peared, for  just  within  the  second  gateway,  and  inclosed  within 
an  octagonal  tower,  covered  with  yellow  tiles,  was  an  immense 
marble  tablet,  with  a  long  inscription,  presented  by  the  Emperor 
Kanghi.  It  is  the  custom  in  China  for  all  to  dismount  and  walk 
when  passing  before  anything  that  comes  from  the  Emperor, 
though  there  was  but  little  occasion  for  the  order  in  this  instance, 
seeing  there  is  not  a  horse  or  ass  upon  the  island. 

Beyond  this  is  a  pond  of  water,  with  many  of  the  broad-leaved 
Lotus  plants  growing  at  each  end,  and  a  beautifully  arched  stone 
oridge  across  it.  Beyond  this  again,  reaching  clear  to  the  base  of 
the  hill,  were  several  large  yellow-tiled  temples,  with  open  courts 
in  front,  and  two-storied  dormitories  at  either  side  of  the  courts 
for  the  monks.  In  the  temples  were  any  number  of  huge  hideous 
idols,  all  once  richly  gilt,  but  now  brown  with  age,  and  black  and 
dirty  with  the  smoke  of  incense.  Just  within  the  door  of  the  main 
building  was  a  shrine  for  drawing  lots,  and  telling  fortunes,  with 
the  inscription  above,  "  Yew  kew  peih  ying"  "  He  that  seeketh 
will  certainly  find  an  answer."  Some  two  dozen  monks  were 
kneeling  and  chanting  in  the  main  building,  among  whom  were 
several  older  than  any  I  have  ever  seen.  Outside  one  or  two 
monks  were  superintending  the  winnowing  of  some  paddy ;  others 
were  watching  men  splitting  up  the  roots  of  an  old  tree  for  fire- 
wood, and  others  were  doing  nothing.  So  lazy  and  good-for-noth 
ing  a  set  as  the  Buddhist  and  Taou  priests,  I  have  never  seen  ; 
and  I  could  not  but  admire  the  simple  truth  with  which  one  of 
the  boatmen  described  their  occupations,  when  I  asked  him  what 
they  did,  "  Why  sir,  they  eat  rice,  and  read  prayers."  In  one  of 
the  side  buildings,  which  is  three  stories  high,  there  is  a  bell  five 
feet  in  diameter,  and  more  than  seven  feet  in  height.  It  is  beaten 
with  a  wooden  hammer,  (the  Chinese  bells  rarely  have  clappers,) 
and  its  sound  when  gently  struck,  amidst  the  chantings  and  chorus 
of  the  monks  below,  was  far  from  being  unpleasant. 

Everything  about  these  buildings  showed  signs  of  age,  neglect, 
and  decay.  The  yellow  tiles,  the  gift  of  imperial  favor,  were 
falling  from  the  roofs,  grass  was  growing  in  the  stone-paved  court- 
yards, weeds  encumbered  the  sacred  Lotus  pond,  windows  and 
doors  were  falling  to  pieces,  and  the  curtains  and  ornaments  of 
the  idols  were  even  browned  with  smoke  and  dust.  Here,  too, 
there  was  but  little  evidence  of  devotion  in  their  worship,  and  one 
of  the  monks  stopped  in  the  midst  of  his  chanting  to  ask  me 
when  I  arrived.  I  left  the  place  with  an  aching  heart ;  for  the 
sight  of  these  old  men  bending  over  the  grave,  and  yet  chanting 
the  praises  of  these  wooden  gods,  was  a  painful  subject  for  thought. 

22 


338  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

From  the  Seen-sz',  a  stone  pathway  leads  over  another  eleva- 
tion, and  through  a  valley  into  a  deep  recess  among  the  hills, 
where  the  next  large  establishment,  the  How-sz\  is  situated. 
This  is  smaller  than  the  Seen-sz',  and  exhibits  even  more  traces 
of  neglect  and  decay.  The  roof  of  one  of  the  buildings  had  partly 
fallen  in,  and  the  broken  tiles  and  mortar  were  lying  about  the 
altar.  Being  somewhat  wearied,  I  sat  down  in  one  of  the  court- 
yards, and  soon  had  five  or  six  of  the  monks  about  me,  with  two 
or  three  workmen  and  servants.  One  of  the  former,  a  man  of 
some  fifty-four  years  of  age,  with  a  face  full  of  curiosity,  came  up, 
and  with  a  very  polite  salutation  said, 

"I  presume  you  are  a  Frenchman,  sir?" 

"  No." 

"  No  !     Oh,  then  you  are  an  English  officer  ?" 

"  No,  I  am  an  American." 

"  Oh  !  an  American  !  Pray  how  far  is  your  honorable  country 
from  England  ?" 

"  It  is  about  ten  thousand  le." 

"  Hi  yah  !     Ten  thousand  le  !     What  a  vast  distance  !" 

"  Yes,"  said  I,  "  it  is  a  good  distance  ;  and  my  country  is  distant 
from  the  '  Central  Flowery  Land'  more  than  sixty  thousand  le." 

"  Prodigious  !  More  than  sixty  thousand  le  !  I  presume  your 
Excellency  has  come  to  the  Central  Land  to  trade.  I  hope  you 
find  the  markets  good." 

"  No,  I  have  not  come  here  to  trade.  I  came  here  to  propagate 
religion." 

"  To  what  ?"  said  he,  looking  puzzled. 

"  To  propagate  religion." 

"Oh,  I  understand.  To  propagate  religion.  I  congratulate 
you,  sir  !  May  I  ask  what  is  your  religion  ?" 

"I  belong  to  the  'religion  of  Jesus.'  We  worship  only  one  true 
God,  and  believe  on  his  son  Jesus  Christ.  We  do  not  worship 
idols.  What  are  these  idols  which  you  worship  here?  They 
have  eyes,  but  they  cannot  see ;  they  have  ears,  but  they  cannot 
hear  ;  they  have  mouths,  but  they  cannot  speak ;  they  have  hands 
and  feet,  but  can  neither  move  their  hands  nor  walk.  What  is  the 
use  of  worshipping  such  things?"  During  this  short  talk,  my  ques- 
tioner was  looking  more  and  more  confused,  and  as  the  last  ques- 
tion was  put,  a  hearty  laugh  was  raised  by  all  around,  in  which 
he  also  joined,  adding,  "  True,  true,  what  you  say  is  perfectly  cor- 
rect." I  went  on  somewhat  farther  to  speak  of  the  sinfulness  of 
man,  our  desert  of  punishment,  the  mercy  of  God,  the  mission  of 
Christ  to  the  world,  together  with  the  consequent  obligation  im- 
posed on  us,  to  believe  on  him  and  secure  our  salvation :  all  of 
which  was  listened  to  very  respectfully,  with  numerous  (thought- 
less, it  is  to  be  feared,  and  hollow)  expressions  of  assent.  I 
then  took  out  some  tracts,  and  gave  them  each  one,  which  were 
politely  received,  and  one  of  the  younger  monks  looking  at  the 
tract  "  Two  Friends,"  remarked,  "  There  were  some  foreigners 


JOURNAL    AT    CHUSAN.  339 

here  several  years  ago,  before  the  English  came  to  Ningpo,  who 
left  this  tract  here."  He  doubtless  referred  to  the  visit  of  Messrs. 
Medhurst  and  Stevens,  in  1836.  Tea  was  now  brought,  and  after 
some  further  desultory  conversation,  I  took  my  departure,  exhibit- 
ing as  much  politeness  as  possible,  which  was  returned  with  inter- 
est by  them.  Before  going  a  hundred  yards,  however,  one  of  them 
came  running  after  me,  calling  out  with  a  loud  voice,  "  Your  Ex- 
cellency !  please  stop  a  little."  I  waited  for  him,  and  when  he 
came  up,  all  out  of  breath  with  his  haste,  he  made  a  low  bow  and 
said,  "  The  great  god  in  the  temple  where  you  have  just  been, 
would  be  very  much  obliged  by  the  donation  of  one  small  Canton 
rupee,  so  small,"  he  added,  making  a  circle  about  as  big  as  a  rupee. 
I  told  him  I  was  very  sorry  not  to  oblige  him,  but  the  thing  was 
utterly  impossible ;  that  I  did  not  worship  nor  respect  idols,  nor 
could  I  make  any  presents  to  them.  With  this  assurance  he  pro- 
fessed to  be  satisfied,  and  bowing,  walked  slowly  back.  But  the 
incident  was  painful,  as  showing  their  indifference  to  the  truth.  I 
had  the  best  evidence  of  their  fully  understanding  and  assenting 
to  what  was  said  against  idolatry,  and  yet  in  five  minutes  after 
they  could  ask  me  to  make  an  offering  to  their  gods  ! 

The  next  morning  I  went  around  to  several  of  the  smaller  mon- 
asteries, but  saw  little  in  them  of  interest.  In  one,  the  monks  were 
so  busy  divining  for  some  sailors,  that  they  had  not  time  to  speak 
to  strangers  ;  in  another,  they  were  all  gone  to  some  other  part  of 
the  island,  and  in  a  third  I  found  no  person  except  one  old  monk, 
suffering  from  disease.  He  was  sitting  in  a  sheltered  verandah, 
with  a  little  boy  waiting  on  him,  and  received  me  quite  politely, 
ordering  tea  to  be  brought.  He  said  he  was  seventy-one  years 
old  ;  and  was  as  intelligent  a  man  as  I  melon  the  island.  In  an- 
swer to  my  inquiries,  he  said  that  the  beginning  of  the  monastic 
establishments  on  the  island  dated  as  far  back  as  the  Leang  dy- 
nasty, some  eight  hundred  years  ago ;  but  that  the  Seen-sz'  and 
the  How-sz'  were  built  in  the  Sung  dynasty.  The  total  number 
of  monks  on  the  island,  he  affirmed,  did  not  exceed  seven  or  eight 
hundred.  I  had  been  told  the  evening  before,  at  the  How-sz'  that 
there  were  fifteen  hundred,  but  the  old  man's  statement  is  proba- 
bly correct.  There  are  four  large,  and  one  hundred  and  two  small 
establishments  on  the  island.  Allowing  one  hundred  monks  for  the 
largest,  and  thirty  for  the  other  three,  each,  we  have  about  two 
hundred.  All  accounts,  agreed  that  in  the  smaller  establishments 
there  were  not  over  five  or  six  in  the  average,  being  about  seven 
or  eight  hundred  in  all.  This  differs  widely  from  the  accounts  of 
former  visitors,  who  make  the  number  amount  to  "  six  thousand  ;" 
but  I  am  satisfied  that  those  accounts  are  much  larger  than  is  cor- 
rect. There  is  not  room  in  all  the  buildings  on  the  island  to  ac- 
commodate so  many. 

As  the  monk  with  whom  I  was  now  talking  was  old  and  sick, 
and  might  soon  die,  I  felt  it  to  be  a  duty  to  point  out  to  him,  how- 
ever imperfectly,  the  way  of  eternal  life  beyond  the  grave ;  but 


340  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER   M.  LO\FRIE. 

though  he  understood  the  most  of  what  was  said,  and  assented  to  it 
as  very  good  and  proper,  it  seemed  to  make  little  impression  upon 
him.  He  said  that  after  death  he  expected  still  to  abide  among 
the  hills  of  this  island,  which  had  now  been  his  home  for  more 
than  fifty  years.  When  asked  how  he  expected  to  secure  happi- 
ness beyond  the  grave,  he  replied,  "  By  worshipping  Buddh,  and 
making  many  prayers."  I  set  before  him  as  well  as  I  could  the 
way  of  life  through  Christ, — to  which  he  listened  attentively,  and 
remarked,  "There  were  some  foreigners  here  several  years  ago, 
who  taught  the  same  doctrine  that  you  do  ;"  referring  doubtless  to 
the  visit  of  Messrs.  Medhurst  and  Stevens.  On  coming  away  I 
gave  him  several  tracts,  which  he  received  gratefully.  Oh  that 
the  truth  which  he  has  thus  heard  more  than  once,  may  be  blessed 
to  him,  even  in  this  the  eleventh  hour !  After  strolling  about  a 
little  longer,  I  left  the  island  at  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M..  and  reached 
Tinghai  near  sunset. 

Thursday,  October  23.  Started  with  Mr.  Loomis  for  a  walk 
across  the  island.  Went  through  the  long  and  narrow  valley, 
back  of  Tinghai,  and  up  the  steep  hill  behind  it.  We  finally 
came  out  into  a  noble  plain,  two  miles,  or  two  and  a  half  miles 
broad,  and  four  or  five  miles  long,  all  covered  with  rice,  while  the 
neighboring  hill-sides,  for  a  great  distance  up.  were  cultivated  with 
buckwheat,  sweet-potatoes,  and  other  vegetables.  This  valley 
appears  to  be  even  larger  than  that  in  which  Tinghai  is  situated, 
and  has  some  ten  or  fifteen  villages  at  the  foot  of  the  hills  around 
it.  Probably  five  thousand  persons  derive  their  subsistence  from 
it.  A  large  part  of  the  men  of  the  valley  were  at  a  theatre  in  one 
of  the  temples,  and  we  took  the  opportunity  to  give  away  some 
tracts,  but  found  few  who  could  read. 

After  going  down  to  the  sea-shore  we  went  back,  and  arrived  at 
home  about  five  o'clock,  p.  M.,  having  walked  twenty-one  miles. 
We  were  foot-sore,  and  wearied  enough. . 

October  27.  Returned  to  Ningpo ;  but  not  reaching  the  place 
till  near  midnight,  found  the  city  gates  shut,  and  the  watchmen 
going  their  rounds.  Obliged  to  remain  in  the  boat  all  night. 

November  5.  Walked  some  three  miles  or  more  down  the  bank 
of  the  Ningpo  river,  which  on  the  north-east  side  of  the  city  makes 
a  remarkable  bend,  almost  inclosing  the  ground  on  which  the 
English  consulate  stands.  A  canal  half  a  mile  long  would  save 
six  or  seven  miles  sailing.  There  are  vast  numbers  of  graves  on 
this  part  of  the  Ningpo  plain,  though  perhaps  not  more  than  may 
be  found  in  any  other  direction.  They  occupy  many  acres  of 
fertile  soil,  and  cause  one  to  doubt  the  truth  of  the  remark  so  often 
made,  that  '•'  the  Chinese  seldom  bury  their  dead  except  on  the 
sides  of  barren  hills."  This  remark  was  generally  found  to  be 
true  in  the  province  of  Canton,  and  in  some  parts  of  Fuhkeen,  but 
it  is  far  from  being  correct  in  those  of  Keangsoo  and  Chehkeang. 
About  Shanghai  the  number  of  tumuli,  or  mounds,  inclosing  cof- 


JOURNAL    AT    CHUSAN.  341 

fins,  is  so  great,  that  in  some  places  they  remind  one  of  haycocks 
in  a  newly-mown  meadow,  while  about  Ningpo  there  are  thou- 
sands of  acres  thus  occupied.  In  the  hills  about  Ningpo,  none 
of  which  are  within  ten  miles  of  the  city,  there  are  comparatively 
few  tombs. 

Nov.  22.  The  early  part  of  this  month  was  the  season  for  the 
harvest  of  the  second  crop  of  rice,  and  the  farmers  have  now 
nearly  finished  threshing  it.  The  cotton  is  also  gathered  in,  and 
the  wheat  is  in  many  places  coming  up,  having  been  planted 
early  in  the  month.  They  do  not  sow  it  broadcast,  but  having 
first  prepared  the  ground  in  long  beds,  they  drill  holes  at  regular 
intervals,  with  a  heavy,  sharp-pointed  stone,  and  drop  five  or  six 
grains  in  each  hole. 

Nov.  26.  Saw  a  wedding  procession,  which  must  have  been 
several  hundred  yards  long,  and  numbered  several  hundreds  of 
people.  A  crowd  of  men  and  boys  bearing  banners  and  inscrip- 
tions went  in  front,  some  trumpets  and  cymbals  followed,  then 
seven  or  eight  men  on  horseback,  then  a  couple  of  officers,  one 
bearing  a  white,  and  the  other  a  gilt  button  in  their  caps  ;  then 
the  bride's  chair,  a  really  beautiful  article,  elegantly  painted,  carv- 
ed and  gilded,  borne  by  eight  men ;  but  the  bride  was  quite  too 
well  inclosed  to  be  seen  ;  then  several  men  bearing  ornamental 
bedding-clothes  and  pillows,  which  form  a  part  of  the  marriage 
presents,  and  are  always  ostentatiously  displayed ;  while  no  less 
than  twenty-one  sedan  chairs  brought  up  the  rear.  The  lady  was 
said  to  be  the  daughter  of  an  officer  of  rank. 

Dec.  1.  I  congratulated  my  teacher  on  the  birth  of  his  daughter. 
"  No,  no,  we  do  not  congratulate  here  on  the  birth  of  a  daughter." 
"  No  !  why  not?'  "  Oh,  they  are  a  great  expense,  and  very  little 
profit  to  us."  This  led  to  some  conversation  on  the  treatment  of 
females,  and  finally  to  the  question,  whether  there  was  such  a 
thing  as  female  infanticide  in  this  part  of  the  country,  he  replied 
quickly,  "  No,  not  here,  but  there  is  in  Canton,  and  in  some  parts 
of  Fuhkeen."  "  Is  there  none  at  all  here  ?"  "  No,  not  in  Ningpo, 
but  in  the  city  of  Funghwa,  (a  city  about  twenty  miles  off,  and 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Che-foo  of  Ningpo,)  there  is.  It  is 
called  neih-sz\  or  death  by  drowning,  for  when  the  child  is  born, 
if  it  be  a  girl,  the  parents  or  assistants  often  heap  water  on  it,  in 
pretence  of  washing  it,  but  in  such  a  way  that  it  dies  !"  He  made 
this  statement  very  unwillingly,  and  with  many  exclamations  of 
horror,  and  finally  added,  "  But  of  late  years,  since  the  Funghwa 
people  have  begun  to  understand  right  reason  and  propriety,  there 
is  none  of  it."  Notwithstanding  this  assertion,  there  is  sufficient 
reason  to  suppose  that  this  horrid  custom  prevails,  not  only  in 
Funghwa,  but  in  other  places  in  this  province ;  but  to  nothing 
like  the  extent  ih  which  it  is  common  in  some  parts  of  Fuhkeen. 

Dec.  11.  A  long  and  serious  discussion  with  my  teacher  to-day 
on  some  points  in  the  systems  of  Confucius  and  Christ,  particu- 
larly in  reference  to  human  nature.  Confucius  and  Mencius 


342  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

teach  that  every  man  is  born  with  a  heart  good  and  pure,  and 
that  it  is  only  by  the  influence  of  evil  example,  and  the  giving 
way  to  one's  own  wishes,  that  the  heart  becomes  bad.  They  do 
not  suppose  that  it  ever  becomes,  totally  depraved,  but  insist  that 
every  man  is  able  to  rectify  his  own  evil  nature,  by  simply  return- 
ing to  the  principles  of  righteousness  implanted  in  him.  It  is  a 
favorite  expression  of  my  teacher,  that  "  the  heart  which  heaven 
gives  us  is  pure ;"  and  his  comparison  to  illustrate  it  was,  "  a  mir- 
ror all  clear  and  bright,  reflecting  perfectly  the  images  of  objects 
presented  to  it.  By  degrees,  through  exposure  to  the  air,  neglect, 
carelessness,  or  ill-usage,  it  becomes  soiled,  dirty  and  useless,"  and 
his  strong  argument  to  uphold  his  position  was,  "  If  you  tell  men 
that  their  nature  is  bad,  they  will  at  once  turn  round  on  you  and 
say,  '  Since  our  nature  is  bad,  then  we  can  do  nothing  to  correct 
it,  and  may  as  well  go  on  in  sin.' "  It  was  to  avoid  this  reply 
that  Mencius  insisted  so  much  on  the  doctrine  of  the  natural 
goodness  of  man's  heart.  Another  argument  he  used  was,  "It 
cannot  be  supposed  that  heaven  would  give  a  man  a  bad  heart." 
The  natural  and  correct  answer,  "  Man  was  created  upright,  but 
fell  by  his  own  sin,  and  drew  his  posterity  after  him,"  he  seemed 
to  think  unsatisfactory. 

Discoursing  still  farther  on  the  nature  of  good  and  evil,  he  gave 
it  as  his  opinion,  that  if  a  man  obeyed  his  parents  and  his  prince, 
avoided  theft,  robbery,  and  licentiousness,  and  was  kind  to  his 
neighbors,  such  a  man  should  be  called  a  good  man.  When 
asked  were  all  men  of  this  character,  he  replied,  "  No,  but  there 
are  some  such."  When  asked  how  many  men  were  outwardly 
moral,  whose  morality  was  caused  more  by  the  fears  of  the  law, 
and  the  opinion  of  men,  than  by  any  regard  for  virtue,  as  such,  he 
replied,  "  Such  men  are  not  very  numerous.  I  suppose  in  ten 
thousand,  nine  thousand  and  nine  hundred  have  no  regard  for 
virtue  as  such."  "  Could  such  men  be  considered  as  good  men  ?" 
"  No,  they  could  hardly  be  called  good  men,  yet  neither  were 
they  worthy  to  be  called  bad."  "  What  do  you  think  of  then- 
heart,  their  motives  ?  Can  these  be  called  good  ?"  "  Mr.  Lovv- 
rie,"  said  he,  half  angrily,  "  why  do  you  talk  about  the  heart  so 
much  ?  Why  do  not  you  content  yourself  with  saying  that  men 
should  do  good,  and  live  virtuously,  without  troubling  yourself 
about  the  heart,  which  nobody  can  see  ?"  "  Because  the  religion 
of  Christ,  unlike  that  of  Confucius  and  Mencius,  teaches  as  one 
of  its  first  truths,  that  the  heart  is  bad  and  must  be  changed,  the 
nature  defiled  and  must  be  renovated,  before  a  man  can  enter 
heaven."  "  Oh  !  that's  very  different  from  the  doctrine  we  believe, 
and  I  do  not  see  the  use  of  talking  so  much  about  the  heart.  Be- 
sides," he  added,  "  I  understand  the  doctrine  of  Jesus  thoroughly, 
a  great  deal  better  than  you  do  that  of  Confucius.  I  have  read 
two  or  three  volumes  of  your  books,  and  think  it  all  very  good. 
Christ  taught  just  the  same  that  Confucius  does,  that  man  should 
do  what  is  right, — there  may  be  some  little  points  of  difference, 


LETTERS.  343 

out  in  all  the  essentials  the  doctrine  of  the  two  is  the  same."  The 
singular  contradictions  of  these  sentences  show  the  character  of  the 
Chinese  mind,  unwilling  to  admit  the  truth  of  a  doctrine  so  un- 
palatable to  the  human  heart,  and  yet  too  polite  to  persist  in  open 
contradiction  of  a  friend. 

My  teacher  is  one  of  the  "  wise  of  this  world."  A  more  learned 
man  than  is  common,  though  a  school-boy  might  justly  laugh  at 
his  knowledge  of  multitudes  of  'things,  he  has  a  high  opinion  of 
himself  and  his  own  intellect,  and  it  is  easy  to  see  that  he  enter- 
tains much  contempt  for  the  humbling  doctrines  of  the  cross. 
What  can  man  do  without  the  aid  of  the  Almighty?  Already  he 
knows  not  quite  so  much  as  he  thinks  he  does,  but  quite  enough 
of  the  way  of  salvation  to  be  saved,  but  it  is  foolishness  to  him. 
Neither  can  he  know  it  aright.  Oh  for  the  life-giving  Spirit  to 
breathe  on  these  dry  bones,  and  make  them  live  ! 

A  slight  spitting  of  snow  to-day,  the  first  I  have  seen  for  nearly 
four  years. 

Dec.  14.  A  fall  of  snow  last  night,  which  whitened  the  ground, 
and  made  things  look  as  natural  as  in  former  days. 


Ningpo,  November  1st,  1845. 

To   THE    SOCIETY    OP    INQUIRY,   PRINCETON    THEOLOGICAL 

SEMINARY. 

DEAR  BRETHREN — In  a  letter  from  the  Corresponding  Secretary 
of  your  Committee  on  Foreign  Missions,  dated  October  16th,  1844, 
which  has  been  lying  by  me  since  April  19th,  1845,  there  are 
three  definite  questions  and  a  carte  blanche,  the  answers  and 
"filling  up"  of  all  of  which  would  occupy  more  time  and  paper 
than  I  have  to  spare  ;  and,  probably,  more  patience  than  you  have 
to  give.  Perhaps  I  shall  not  err  in  answering  the  questions  first, 
and  then  adding  what  may  come  uppermost,  or  find  room. 

In  regard  to  Morrison's  translation  of  the  Bible  into  Chinese,  a 
singular  misconception  has  long  prevailed  among  the  supporters 
of  missions,  both  in  England  and  America.  It  is  not  three  years 
since  one  of  the  warmest,  and  generally  speaking,  one  of  the  best 
informed  friends  of  missions  in  England,  asserted,  in  opposition  to 
the  united  and  unanimous  voice  of  the  Protestant  Missionaries  in 
China,  that  "  Morrison's  translation  of  the  Scriptures  was  nearly 
perfect,  and  another  was  unnecessary."  This  was,  to  say  the  least, 
rather  a  venturesome  remark  from  one  who  did  not  know  a  word 
of  Chinese  !  .  .  . 

I  can  answer  your  question,  "  Is  the  translation  useful  or  intel- 
ligible ?"  by  saying  it  is  useful,  but  is  not  adapted  for  general  cir- 
culation. When  we  are  explaining  the  Scripture  history  or 
doctrine  in  private  conversation,  it  is  of  use,  because  it  is  sufficient- 
ly intelligible,  with  such  cautions  and  explanations  as  we  can 
give  orally,  to  give  those  with  whom  we  speak  a  fuller  idea  of  the 
truth.  It  is  of  use  to  give  to  our  converts,  for  you  know  the 


344  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

converted  man  finds  good  when  the  impenitent  turns  away  in  dis- 
gust ;  and  the  converts  will  naturally  come  to  us  for  explanation. 
And  it  is  also  of  use  to  those  who  may  prepare  a  new  translation. 
But  it  is  not,  as  I  think,  adapted  for  general  circulation,  nor  would 
I  willingly  give  a  copy  to  a  heathen,  except  under  favorable  cir- 
cumstances. These  same  remarks  apply  in  great  measure  to  Dr. 
Marshman's  translation,  which  was  finished  about  the  same  time 
with  Morrison's,  and  has  never  had  an  extensive  circulation. 

You  also  ask,  "  What  progress  has  been  made  towards  remedy- 
ing its  defects?"  A  good  deal  as  regards  the  New  Testament ; 
but.  as  it  regards  the  Old,  almost  none.  We  have  two  other  trans- 
lations of  the  New  Testament ;  one  by  Gutzlaff,  which  is  not 
much  used  ;  and  another  by  Medhurst,  assisted  by  John  R.  Morri- 
son, Bridgman,  and  others.  The  latter  is  the  one  in  common  use ; 
and  it  is  in  general  intelligible  and  good,  though  paraphrastic 
sometimes,  and  far  from  being  perfect.  A  number  of  the  mission- 
aries, both  English  and  American,  are  now  engaged  in  a  revision 
of  it ;  but  it  may  be  several  years  before  it  is  completed.  When 
the  Old  Testament  will  be  revised  and  published,  I  have  no  idea. 
I  hope  to  live  to  see  the  time,  and,  perhaps,  to  take  some  part  in 
it,  but  it  will  not  be  soon.  There  is  a  great  work  yet  to  be  done 
in  this  respect,  and  perhaps  some  of  you  may  be  called  to  assist  in 
it.  The  translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  Chinese  is  a  great, 
difficult,  and  most  important  work,  and  the  preparation  of  Com- 
ments and  Notes  upon  them  will  require  the  labors  of  many  men 
for  many  years.  You  can  have  but  little  idea  of  the  strange 
notions  they  gather  from  expressions  that  are  as  common  to  us  as 
the  air  we  breathe.  .  .  . 

T  have  gone  over  the  Gospel  of  Luke  very  carefully  with  my 
teacher,  who  passes  for  a  learned  man  in  Ningpo,  and  his  mistakes 
and  misconceptions  have  been  both  amusing  and  painful.  This 
arises  in  part  from  the  imperfection  of  ihe  translation;  in  part 
from  an  utter  and  characteristic  ignorance  of  the  geography  and 
history  of  every  other  nation  but  China ;  in  part  from  the  use  of 
figures  and  comparisons  unknown  in  China.  Some  people  say 
"The  Bible  is  an  Oriental  book,  and  the  Chinese  are  an  Oriental 
people,  therefore,  they  can  easily  understand  it.  But  unfortunate- 
ly the  Chinese  are  as  much  beyond  "  the  East"  on  one  side  as 
America  is  on  the  other :  and  therefore  the  remark  is  very  un- 
founded, in  part  from  inattention  and  want  of  interest  in  the  sub- 
ject, and  in  part  from  the  "  thick  darkness"  which  idolatry  and 
superstition  have  enshrouded  even  the  mental,  and  much  more 
the  moral  perceptions.  Oh  brethren  !  if  you  were  here  but  a  few 
days,  you  would  understand  something  of  the  necessity  for  the 
Spirit's  influences  to  open  the  understanding,  and  pour  light  into 
the  heart;  and  of  the  feelings  of  the  prophet,  when  commanded 
to  prophesy  to  the  dry  bones.  Pray  for  us.  So  deep  is  the  "  veil 
of  the  covering  cast  over"  the  minds  of  the  heathen,  that  were  it 
not  for  what  God  can  do,  the  Missionary  enterprise  would  be  as 


LETTERS.  345 

fantastic  a  scheme  of  folly  as  the  brain  of  man  ever  devised.  Tf  h 
were  not  for  the  hope,  the  belief  of  what  God  will  do,  I  would  not 
be  a  missionary  for  another  day.  It  requires  but  a  few  years'  ex- 
perience in  the  missionary  field  to  learn  that  it  is  not  talents  nor 
learning-,  important  as  these  are,  but  piety  and  prayer,  that  are 
chiefly  requisite  in  a  missionary.  "Not  by  might  nor  by  power, 
but  by  my  spirit,  saith  the  Lord."  Oh  that  my  own  heart  and 
practice  were  more  deeply  influenced  by  this  conviction,  and  that 
the  churches  at  home  felt  it  more. 

You  ask  for  "  my  impressions  regarding  the  climate  of  China." 
Having  not  yet  had  a  full  experience  of  the  climate  so  far  north 
as  my  present  residence,  I  cannot  answer  you  so  fully  as  may  be 
desirable  ;  but  what  I  know  is  briefly  as  follows  :  In  the  Canton 
province,  and  the  climate  at  Amoy  is  not  materially  different, 
warm  weather  prevails  for  nine  months  in  the  year  ;  of  which 
four  or  five  are  oppressive,  while  the  months  of  December,  Jan- 
uary, and  February,  are  pleasant  and  cool.  The  natives  and  the 
Portuguese  at  Macao  do  not  use  fires  in  their  houses,  but  the 
English  and  Americans  find  them  very  agreeable.  During  three 
years,  the  lowest  I  ever  saw  the  thermometer  was  45°,  while  it 
generally  in  the  cool  weather  ranged  between  50°  and  60°  of  Fahren- 
heit. I  never  used  a  cloak  but  once  or  twice,  except  in  my  room, 
where,  as  I  sat  without  a  fire,  it  was  needful.  In  the  long  Avarm 
seasons  my  health  suffered,  and  I  became  languid  and  thinner 
than  usual,  in  August  and  September.  Most  persons  suffer  in  the 
same  way,  but  the  winter  or  rather  the  cool  weather,  for  ice  and 
snow  are  almost  never  seen,  is  invigorating,  and  many  enjoy  bet- 
ter health  than  in  their  own  land.  I  consider  the  climate  at 
Macao  and  Canton  as  decidedly  healthy ;  and  expecting  the  in- 
disposition above  referred  to,  which,  however,  never  confined  me  a 
whole  day  to  the  couch,  I  never  was  better  athome.  The  circum- 
stances which  have  made  Amoy  and  Hong  Kong  unhealthy,  I  do 
not  think  will  have  a  permanent  influence  ;  nor  should  I  have  the 
slightest  hesitation  or  fear  in  going  to  either  of  these  places.  It 
would  seem,  however,  from  facts  already  observed,  that  northern 
men  bear  the  climate  better  than  southern,  though  reasoning  a 
priori  many  would  think  differently. 

In  Shanghai  and  Ningpo,  the  climate  is  different.  We  have 
pleasant,  cool,  and  cold  weather,  for  nine  months,  and  warm 
weather  for  three,  July  and  August,  and  parts  of  June  and  Sep- 
tember. Of  the  warm  weather  six  weeks  are  uncomfortably  hot. 
if  anything,  worse  than  at.  Macao.  I  have  not  yet  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  experiencing  the  cold  weather  here  in  its  perfection,  though 
I  retain  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  coldness  of  my  fingers  and  ears 
on  approaching  Shanghai  in  March,  when  the  cold  weather  was 
nearly  over,  and  of  the  strange  sensations  excited,  by  seeing  my 
breath  come  out  in  thick  steam,  and  sleeping  under  a  load  of  bed- 
clothes, things  to  which  I  had  been  a  stranger  for  more  than  three 
years.  The  thermometer  falls  below  25°  ;  ice  and  snow  are  seen 


346  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

every  winter ;  and  fur  clothes,  which  are  cheap  and  good,  are 
worn  to  an  extent  that  would  surprise  you.  Yet  even  here,  the 
inhabitants  do  not  use  fires,  but  content  themselves  with  abund- 
ance of  cotton  garments,  (ten  and  fifteen  jackets  worn  at  once  are 
not  uncommon,)  wadded  clothes,  and  furs,  with  small  foot-stoves, 
and  finger-stoves.  But  I  do  not  see  how  we  can  do  without  fires. 
The  climate  is  subject  to  frequent  and  considerable  changes.  I 
have  seen  the  thermometer  rise  from  34°  to  84°  in  a  few  days  in 
March,  and  fall  back  to  40°  in  forty  hours  ;  and  after  experiencing 
warm  weather  in  June,  I  have  put  on  woollen  stockings  in  July. 
A  fall  of  twenty  degrees  in  a  few  hours  is  not  uncommon,  arid  is 
sensibly  felt.  It  is  now  quite  cool,  the  thermometer  being  below 
sixty,  except  in  the  middle  of  the  day  ;  and  the  merchants'  shops 
present  a  busy  and  rich  scene,  from  the  quantity  of  fine  furs  dis- 
played in  them.  I  am  looking  forward  with  some  interest  to  the 
return  of  snow  and  ice,  things  which  I  have  not  seen  for  nearly 
four  years.  My  impressions  of  the  climate  of  Ningpo  are  very 
favorable,  though  the  last  summer  being  cooler  than  usual,  did 
not  afford  a  very  good  opportunity  of  knowing  precisely  what  it  is. 

....  There  are  also  two  or  three  disagreeably  damp  seasons  in 
the  summer,  of  two  or  three  weeks'  continuance,  when  rain  pours 
down  in  torrents ;  and  if  it  does  not  rain,  you  feel  as  if  the  very 
air  was  damp  and  cloudy  ;  and  the  perspiration  will  gather  on  the 
stones  in  the  wall,  even  when  the  sun  is  shining  outside.  Such 
weather  is  hard  on  books,  clothes,  and  animal  spirits ;  but  it  is 
of  short  continuance. 

We  get  plenty  to  eat.  here,  but  not  a  very  great  variety,  as  the 
inhabitants  have  not  yet  learned  to  provide  for  foreigners,  as  they 
have  at  Macao  and  Canton.  Goat's  flesh,  pork,  hams,  chickens, 
ducks,  and  geese,  are  our  principal  meats  ;  though  in  winter,  wild- 
ducks,  pheasants,  and  hares,  are  cheaper  than  anything  else. 
Pish  of  several  kinds  we  have  all  the  year  round ;  wheat,  rice, 
and  a  little  buck-wheat,  form  the  staff  of  life ;  sweet  potatoes, 
turnips,  egg-plants,  bean  sprouts,  bamboo  sprouts,  taro,  beans,  peas, 
Kaou-bah,  onions,  and  greens,  are  our  chief  vegetables ;  and  for 
fruits  we  have  peaches,  pears,  plums,  lichees,  persimmons,  pome- 
granates, and  oranges,  with  walnuts,  chestnuts,  and  pea-nuts. 
You  will  say,  "  This  is  a  goodly  list."  True,  and  we  are  thank- 
ful to  enjoy  so  many  of  God's  good  gifts  here ;  nor  do  we  com- 
plain when  we  remember  that  few  of  them  are  so  good  as  those 
you  eat  in  the  United  States ;  while  beef,  such  at  least  as  may  be 
called  good,  Irish  potatoes,  and  apples,  are  seldom  seen.  I  have 
tasted  none  of  either  in  many  months,  nor  apples,  which  are 
worth  all  the  oranges  of  China,  for  years  ;  nor  do  we  get  all  these 
things  at  once.  I  find  in  my  market-book,  (for  we'bachelors  have 
to  attend  to  such  things  ourselves  oftentimes,)  that  for  weeks  to- 
gether, Dr.  McCartee  and  I  sat  down  together  to  a  table,  of  which 
the  chief  dishes  were,  chickens,  or  fish,  bamboo  sprouts,  turnips, 
and  bean  sprouts,  with  bread,  rice,  and  eggs.  It  is  hard  to  say 


LETTERS.  347 

what  we  should  do  without  eggs  !  When  the  egg-plants  came 
we  were  delighted,  and  when  the  sweet  potatoes  were  fit  to  eat, 
we  were  satisfied  !  The  married  missionaries  do  not  fare  any 
better  than  we  bachelors,  though  they  doubtless  have  some  things 
nicer  \ 

For  the  particularity  of  the  above  statements,  I  do  not  think  it 
necessary  to  make  any  apology,  though  the  pronoun  "  I,"  occurs 
with  a  frequency  that  is  somewhat  startling ;  perhaps  it  may  be 
some  excuse,  that  they  are  written  in  answer  to  the  question, 
"What  are  my  impressions?" 

Your  last  question,  "  The  magnitude  of  the  field  and  the  pros- 
pects of  the  mission  ?"  is  one  on  which  a  volume  might  be  written, 
but  the  space  already  consumed  warns  me  to  be  brief,  the  more  so 
as  I  may  have  an  occasion  hereafter  to  refer  to  it.  I  can  only  say 
this :  Few  have  any  idea  of  the  extent  of  the  ground  that  is 
opened  and  opening  to  our  labors,  and  none  know  where  the 
things  will  end,  whose  beginnings  we  have  lived  to  witness.  The 
opening  of  China  to  foreign  intercourse,  is  an  event  which  finds 
few  parallels  in  the  history  of  the  world.  This  country  is  a  world 
in  itself;  and  the  thought  has  often  occurred  to  me,  while  travers- 
ing its  beautiful  plains  and  crowded  streets,  "  What  a  world  has 
been  revolving  here  of  which  Christendom  knows  nothing !"  I 
have  been  led  to  make  excursions  of  twenty  or  thirty  miles  into 
the  interior,  from  each  of  the  cities  of  Amoy,  Shanghai,  and 
Ningpo,  and  everywhere  the  country  is  like  a  vast  beehive,  swarm- 
ing with  inhabitants.  It  is  the  same  about  Canton,  where  I  have 
also  been,  and  doubtless  the  same  about  Foo-chovv.  I  have  not 
known  what  it  is  to  be  out  of  sight  of  a  human  habitation  since 
I  have  been  in  China,  and  where  there  is  one  there  is  commonly 
ten.  1  have  scarcely  ever  seen  a  little  valley,  or  a  hollow  among 
the  hills,  where  industry  could  cultivate  a  bed  of  rice,  or  a  crop  of 
greens,  that  was  not  occupied.  It  is  scarcely  an  exaggeration  to 
say,  that  temples  and  monasteries  are  as  common  here  as  farm- 
houses in  Pennsylvania,  and  I  have  seen  the  streets  of  Ningpo 
crowded  with  many  ten  thousands  of  people,  to  see  an  idolatrous 
procession  in  honor  of  "all  the  gods."  Now  all  this  vast  and 
teeming  population  of  idolaters  must  have  the  gospel,  or  perish. 
Books  will  not  do  the  work.  It  is  the  living  teacher  who  must 
speak  unto  them  the  words  of  life.  Such  is  the  field  we  cultivate. 
As  to  our  prospects,  you  have  them  in  the  concluding  verses  of 
Psalm  cxxvi. : 

They  that  sow  in  tears, 

With  shoutings  shall  gather  the  harvest. 

Going  he  shall  go,  even  with  weeping,  burdened  with  the  seed  to  be  sown : 

Coming  he  shall  come,  and  with  shouting,  burdened  with  his  sheaves. 

It  is  nearly  midnight,  and  I  must  draw  to  a  close  without  refer- 
ring to  other  topics,  which,  if  this  letter  were  not  already  full 
enough,  might  be  of  interest.  Full  notices  of  the  mission  you 


348  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

will  probably  see  in  the  Chronicle  before  long,  and  I  have  omitted 
them  here. 

Brethren,  whatever  your  own  course  may  be.  whether  to  come 
to  the  missionary  field,  or  to  cultivate  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  at 
home,  there  is  one  thing  we  pray  you  to  bear  in  mind,  "  It  is  God 
who  giveth  the  increase,"  and  if  success  do  not  attend  one's  labor, 
the  reason  will  probably  be  found  in  the  fact  that  he  is  not  inquired 
of  by  his  people  respecting  this  thing,  to  do  it  for  them.  Pray 
for  us. 

I  am  yours  in  the  bonds  of  the  Gospel, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  December  5th,  1845. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

....  I  have  my  commentary  on  Luke,  which  with  the  text  will 
make  a  handsome  volume  of  a  hundred  pages,  ready  for  the  press, 
and  trust  it  will  be  of  use.  The  style  is  pure  and  good  Chinese, 
for  it  is  written  by  my  teacher,  and  I  know  the  sentiments  to  be 
correct,  though  sometimes  not  as  full  or  clear  as  I  could  have 
wished.  My  teacher  said  to  me,  I  suppose,  twenty  times  while 
preparing  it,  "How  can  you  expect  us  to  understand  this  book?  / 
do  not  understand  it,  who  have  been  reading  books  all  my  life,  and 
how  can  less  learned  persons  comprehend  it?"  The  doctrines, 
historical  allusions,  geography,  customs,  e.  g.,  washing  the  feet, 
comparisons,  everything  is  strange ;  and  when  joined  to  an  imper- 
fect translation,  it  is  not  to  be  thought  that  a  careless  heathen  can 
understand  such  a  book.  At  the  risk  of  being  thought  a  heretic, 
I  must  say  I  think  the  oft-repeated  phrase,  "  The  Bible  without 
note  or  comment,"  is  in  danger  of  being  pushed  so  far,  as  to  fall 
over  and  do  harm.  However  true  it  is  and  correct  under  limita- 
tions, it  is  not  correct  in  itself.  It  is  not  true  in  fact,  that  our  peo- 
ple at  home  read  it  "without  note  or  comment;"  for  there  is  no 
one  who  does  not  hear  many  a  note  and  comment  from  parent, 
teacher,  friend  or  minister,  and  there  are  few  who  do  not  form 
their  opinions  of  most  of  it  from  such  "notes  and  comments." 
If  these  and  innumerable  commentaries  besides,  are  needed  in  a 
land  of  so  much  light  as  America,  what  must  be  the  case  in 
China?  "Without  note  and  comment"  is  true,  so  far  as  authori- 
tative and  infallible  exposition  is  intended ;  and  also,  if  it  be 
meant  that  the  simple  text,  when  understood,  is  to  be  carefully 
studied  and  pondered  in  the  Christian  hours  of  devotion ;  but  1 
humbly  conceive  there  is  danger  if  it  be  extended  much  beyond 
these  limits.  However,  I  ought  to  reflect  that  you  have  thought 
on  the  subject  long  enough,  not  to  need  such  a  "  lesson"  from  me. 

...  I  was  deeply  grieved  to  hear  of  the  accident  you  met,  but 
thankful  it  was  no  worse.  How  many  strange  accidents  we 
miss,  within  a  hair's-breadth  of  them,  though  unawares.  We 
shall  doubtless  often  wonder  when  we  get  to  heaven,  and  look 


LETTERS.  349 

back  on  our  past  life,  that  amidst  so  many  dangers  it  was  pro- 
longed so  long. 

....  After  a  good  deal  of  thought,  I  am  about  settling  down  to 
the  opinion,  that  I  ought  to  aim  at  a  pretty  full  knowledge  of 
books  and  writing  in  Chinese.  In  a  mission  so  large  as  ours,  and 
where  we  have  a  press,  there  must  be  some  one  tolerably  at  home 
on  some  points.  Now,  I  have  been  so  circumstanced,  as  to  be 
obliged  to  turn  my  thoughts  much  that  way,  somewhat  to  the 
disadvantage  of  my  speaking  fluently,  and  I  am  so  still.  I  have 
laid  such  a  foundation  of  acquaintance  with  the  written  lan- 
guage, as  enables  me  to  go  on  with  some  ease,  and  such  as  the 
other  brethren  can  scarcely  be  expected  to  do  in  some  time.  They 
are  accordingly  outstripping  me  in  the  colloquial,  though  I  have 
the  advantage  in  the  books,  and  can  easily  keep  it  up.  My  edu- 
cation and  previous  habits  are  also  such  as  fit  me  more  for  this 
than  for  mingling  among  men,  unless  actually  obliged  to  do  so. 
I  propose,  therefore,  not  to  neglect  the  colloquial,  but  to  lay  out  a 
good  portion  of  my  strength  on  reading  and  writing  Chinese. 
Keeping  in  view,  chiefly,  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  and 
works  explanatory  of  them,  and  perhaps  the  preparation  of  ele- 
mentary books,  and  it  may  be^.  dictionary,  a  thing  we  are  greatly 
in  want  of.  What  do  you  mink  of  this  plan?  You  will  not 
think  I  mean  to  neglect  the  great  work  of  preaching,  for  I  trust 
to  be  able  in  the  course  of  nexl^  year  to  undertake  regular  ser- 
vices. I  might  do  it  now,  if  I  had  no  accounts  to  keep,  letters  to 
write,  and  advice  and  assistance  to  give  to  others,  especially  in 
the  matter  of  the  printing  office.  That  you  may  see  how  much 
I  have  been  hindered  one  way  and  another  since  coming  to  China,  I 
may  say  that  though  it  is  nearly  four  years  since  I  left  you,  yet  I 
have  had  a  teacher,  and  by  consequence  have  been  studying  the 
language  effectively,  only  twenty-three  months,  and  of  those, 
three  are  hardly  worth  counting  from  the  interruptions  I  met.  I 
sometimes  felt  quite  discouraged,  and  now  feel  ashamed  to  think 
I  have  been  here  so  long,  and  done  so  little  .... 

With  many  affectionate  remembrances  and  prayers, 
I  am,  as  ever,  your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ning-po,  December  31st,  1845. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

....  I  have  to-day  finished  a  first  revision  of  a  little  Tract  on 
the  Sabbath.  It  will  be  only  four  or  five  pages,  and  consists  of 
Gen.  i.,  and  some  remarks  on  the  Sabbath,  with  the  Fourth  and 
Second  Commandments ;  all  of  which  I  first  put  into  such  Chinese 
as  I  was  able,  and  then  submitted  to  my  teacher  for  a  thorough 


350  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

don't  make  much  difference,  they  are  both  very  obscure !"  He 
found  no  difficulty,  however,  in  understanding  the  subsequent 
remarks,  when  I  was  not  tied  down  to  a  form  of  words,  and 
even  deigned  to  tell  me.  that  two  or  three  sentences  were  correct ! 
I  thought  it  quite  a  compliment,  for  he  is  very  proud  of  the 
excellencies  of  Chinese  literature.  However,  in  writing  it  over, 
he  left  very  little  of  the  poor  thing  in  the  dress  I  had  given  it  at 
first.  I  almost  despair  at  times  of  ever  getting  through  the  laby- 
rinth of  Chinese  literature.  How  glad  I  am  that  it  was  not  my 
own  choice  that  brought  me  here.  The  remembrance  of  the  way 
by  which  T  have  been  led,  often  holds  me  up,  when  I  should  fail, 
if  I  thought  I  had  chosen  the  path  for  myself. 

It  is  tolerably  cool  just  now  ;  we  have  had  frost  in  nearly  every 
night  for  three  weeks  past,  and  I  find  overcoat,  cloak,  foot-stove, 
and  finger-stove  only  enough  to  keep  me  going. 

It  is  hard  work  writing  sometimes,  for  I  can  scarcely  keep  my 
fingers  warm ;  but  these  are  very  minor  affairs,  so  I  will  not 
trouble  you  any  more. 

It  is  drawing  near  to  eleven  o'clock,  p.  M.,  and  as  I  do  not  feel 
like  seeing  the  old  year  out,  nor  soliloquizing  about  it,  I  will  close. 
But  I  cannot  help  asking,  Where  are  you  all  now,  and  how 
engaged  ? 

I  am  as  ever,  yo  an  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

1846. 

MISSIONARY   LABORS   AT    NINGPO — HEATHEN    CUSTOMS — WORSHIP — SUPERSTITIOUS 
FEARS — PREACHING   IN  CHINESE. 

DURING  this  year  the  missions  in  China  were  further  strength- 
ened by  the  arrival  at  Canton  of  the  Rev.  John  B.  French,  and 
the  Rev.  William  Speer  and  his  wife,  and  at  Ningpo,  of  the  Rev. 
J.  W.  Quarterman.  The  British  troops  were  this  year  withdrawn 
from  Chusan,  and  as  the  Chinese  authorities  would  not  permit 
foreigners  to  reside  there,  JVIr.  Loom  is  and  his  wife  removed  to 
Ningpo. 

Mr.  Lowrie's  study  of  the  Chinese  language,  while  in  Macao,  as 
already  stated,  was  much  interrupted  by  the  business  matters  of 
the  different  missions.  The  Mandarin  dialect,  which  he  studied 
at  Macao,  is  not  spoken  in  the  south  of  China,  and  hence  he  could 
converse  in  it  with  his  teacher  only.  This  he  found  to  be  a  seri- 
ous disadvantage.  The  Ningpo  and  Mandarin  dialects  are  as  dif- 
ferent from  each  other  as  the  French  is  from  the  Spanish.  In 
learning  to  speak  the  former,  he  had  therefore  to  begin  anew,  with 
the  advantage  however  of  hearing  it  daily  spoken  by  the  inhabi- 
tants. But  here  also  his  time  was  a  good  deal  taken  up  with  the 
business  of  the  Ningpo  Mission,  and  correcting  the  proof-sheets  of 
works  issued  from  the  press.  So  many,  and  such  long-continued 
adverse  circumstances,  at  times  almost  produced  discouragement 
in  his  own  mind,  as  it  regarded  the  spoken  language.  But  even 
in  it  his  progress  was  not  slow ;  in  less  than  eighteen  months  he 
commenced  preaching  in  Chinese.  His  knowledge  of  the  written 
language  was  more  satisfactory  to  himself.  In  August  he  wrote 
several  essays,  which  were  published  in  the  Chinese  Repository, 
on  the  proper  Chinese  words  to  be  used  in  translating  the  name 
of  God  into  Chinese.  These  were  among  the  first  pieces  that  were 
published  on  the  side  of  the  question  so  ably  sustained  since  by 
Doctors  Boone  and  Bridgeman. 


352  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

In  September  he  commenced  the  preparation  of  a  dictionary  of 
the  "  Four  Books,"  and  afterwards  he  decided  to  include  also  the 
"  Five  Classics."  These  books  contain  the  body  of  the  Chinese 
language,  and  if  his  life  had  been  spared,  he  would  no  doubt  have 
made  it  a  dictionary  of  the  whole  language.  He  became  much 
interested  in  this  work,  and  had  even  to  guard  himself  against 
being  drawn  aside  from  his  appropriate  work  of  preaching  the 
gospel. 

The  letters  and  journals  of  this  period  throw  much  light  on  the 
interior  working  of  the  mission  at  Ningpo,  and  still  further  tend 
to  elucidate  the  state  and  condition  of  the  native  population. 
Other  subjects  are  occasionally  adverted  to.  One  of  much  import- 
ance, in  relation  to  the  return  of  missionaries,  is  noticed  in  a  letter 
to  one  of  the  members  of  the  Executive  Committee.  It  would  be 
out  of  place  here  to  examine  the  views  there  presented;  but  the 
whole  subject  is  worthy  of  far  more  consideration  than  it  has  yet 
received  from  the  Church  at  home. 


Ningpo,  January  1st,  1846. 

A  happy  New  Year  to  you,  my  dear  mother,  and  very  many  of 
them !  is  a  wish  that,  if  I  had  the  power,  would  certainly  b^ 
accomplished ;  and  yet,  though  I  might  have  the  power,  I  might 
not  have  the  wisdom  necessary  to  make  it  a  blessing.  So  I  will 
change  it  to  the  prayer,  that  He  who  knows  what  is  best  for  us, 
and  loves  us  far  better  than  any  earthly  friend  can  love  another, 
would  give  you  such  length  of  days,  and  such  enjoyment  therein 
as  will  make  you  most  useful  here,  and  most  blessed  hereafter. 
New  Year's  morning !  Although  it  be  only  an  arbitrary  distinc- 
tion that  makes  this  day  more  important  than  any  other  of  the 
year,  for  each  day  is  the  point  of  "confluence  of  two  eternities," 
yet  consent  has  erected  it  into  a  sort  of  elevation  to  look  back  over 
the  past,  so  rapidly  fading  from  view,  and  to  strain  our  weak  eyes 
into  the  unknown  future.  How  little  we  can  know  of  the  one, 
and  how  feebly  we  estimate  the  importance  of  the  other  ! 

Although  I  always  look  forward  to  the  New  Year  with  some 
such  feelings  as  these,  yet  it  always  takes  me  by  surprise,  and  I 
find  it  difficult  in  looking  back  to  the  last  one  to  realize  the  events 
that  have  occurred  and  passed  away.  How  many  events  must 
have  occurred  in  your  larger  circle  of  friends.  Here,  few  as  are 
those  I  know,  yet  I  find  strange  alterations  in  the  last  year.  A 
fellow-passenger  in  the  Huntress  (Mr.  King)  died,  and  was  buried 
in  the  Red  Sea.  One  of  my  warmest  friends,  Mrs.  Sword,  has 
been  called  home.  She  was  always  exceedingly  afraid  to  die,  and 
yet  when  called  away,  though  fully  sensible  of  it,  fear  had  entirely 
departed,  and  peace  reigned.  It  makes  me  feel  desolate  sometimes 


LETTERS.  353 

to  think  of  such  friends  departing,  and  she  is  not  the  only  one 
whom  the  last  year  has  removed  me  from,  though  the  others  are 
not  dead,  but  only  farther  off,  and  to  remember  again  that  I  am  a 
stranger  in  the  earth  ;  bat  then  it  is  pleasant,  too,  for  the  separa- 
tion is  but  temporary.  I  have  no  patience  with  those  stoics  who 
maintain  that  we  shall  not  know  our  friends  in  heaven.  Certain- 
ly the  Spirit  of  Christ  alone  would  fill  our  cup  of  joy  even  to  over- 
flowing, but  why  should  not  those  who  in  tears  and  temptations 
and  prayers  served  him  here,  and  encouraged  each  other  in  the 
upward  course,  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable  together  there?  We 
shall  remember  the  way  by  which  we  were  led  through  this  "great 
and  terrible  wilderness,"  and  shall  we  forget  the  kind  words 
spoken,  the  cup  of  water,  the  look  of  affection  and  encouragement 
more  eloquent  than  words,  and  more  soothing  than  the  sweetest 
harmony  I  I  do  not  believe  it.  Christ  said  to  his  disciples  that 
those  who  had  "continued  with  him  in  his  temptations,"  should 
sit  with  him  in  his  glory,  and  if  we  hold  communion  with  Him  in 
this  respect,  why  not  with  one  another?  We  shall  have  bodies 
as  well  as  souls  in  heaven,  "spiritual"  it  is  true,  but  "bodies" 
still;  we  shall  have  human  affections,  too,  freed  from  all  sin  ;  and 
if  such  affections  form  our  sweetest  and  most  satisfying  solace 
here,  what  will  they  be  there?  But  I  did  not  mean  to  write  all 
this,  for  I  was  thinking  of  other  things  when  I  commenced. 

Here  I  am,  after  voyaging  and  tossing  about  again  on  the  rough 
sea.  I  am  now  settled  down  in  the  field  I  have  long  been  looking 
to.  I  have  made  some  little  progress  in  the  language,  and  begin 
to  feel  at  home  among  the  people;  but  shall  I  remain  here?  I 
do  not  know  why  it  is,  but  I  seem  constantly  to  have  a  voice  say- 
ing, "Arise,  this  is  not  your  rest!"  Nor  should  I  be  surprised  at 
any  time  to  receive  an  order  to  depart.  Yet  as  such  feelings  are 
not  the  rule  by  which  we  are  to  be  guided,  I  endeavor  to  work  on 
as  if  this  were  to  be  my  earthly  home ;  and  be  my  abode  long  or 
short,  to  be  in  readiness  when  He  comes,  whose  coming  will  not 
tarry. 

My  teacher  has  just  come  in,  and  knowing  that  this  is  our  new 
year,  he  has  been  cogitating  a  salutation  for  me,  which  was  as 
follows,  Seen  sang,  shangte  pongdzooe  ne  taou  teendong  cheaw, 
"  Sir,  may  God  assist  you  and  enable  you  to  arrive  at  heaven  !" 
I  was  not  a  little  surprised  and  gratified  too,  for  I  never  heard  him 
utter  such  a  sentiment  before.  Oh  that  the  wish,  which  in 
politeness  he  made  for  me,  were  fulfilled  in  reality  to  him  !  If  he 
were  but  a  Christian,  or  if  I  might  but  see  him  one,  it  seems  to 
me  I  should  almost  be  ready  to  depart  in  peace;  for  his  talents 
and  acquirements  are  such,  that  if  they  were  sanctified  they  would 
be  invaluable.  But  alas,  he  is  proud  of  his  learning,  temporizing 
in  his  policy,  and  averse  to  know  the  plague  of  his  own  heart. 
The  doctrine  of  human  depravity,  he  cannot  away  with  ;  it  is  a 
very  abomination  to  him,  and  after  all  the  instructions  he  has  re- 
ceived, if  he  repents  not,  how  much  greater  will  be  his  condemna- 

23 


354 


MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 


tion.     I  fear  we  shall  prove  a  "savor  of  death  unto  death,"  to 
more  than  we  shall  be  the  means  of  saving,  in  this  land.  .  .  . 
Believe  me,  as  ever,  yours  in  kind  remembrances, 

And  sincere  affection,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  January  17th,  1846. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

It  is  Saturday  night,  and  though  I  might  doubtless  find  some 
Chinese  study  to  occupy  me  during  the  hours  that  remain  before 
bed-time,  yet  I  have  an  idea  that  a  letter  to  you  would  be  quite  as 
agreeable  to  myself,  and  more  acceptable  to  you.  I  have  been 
moving  this  week,  and  now  feel  pretty  well  settled  in  my  new 
abode,  having  to-day  done  nearly  all  1  intend,  for  the  purpose  of 
making  it  comfortable.  On  Monday  it  will  be  four  years  since  I 
left  home,  and  this  is  the  first  week  since  then  that  I  have  been  in 
a  house  I  could,  properly  speaking,  call  my  own.  Even  here,  I 
am  only  in  "my  own  hired  house,"  but  I  hope  it  will  be  "two  full 
years"  at  least  before  I  have  to  leave  it.  While  in  Macao  and 
elsewhere,  I  have  scarcely  known  from  one  month's  end  to  another, 
where  I  should  be  in  two  months  more.  So  you  may  think  I 
begin  to  feel  somewhat  "settled." 

Would  you  like  a  description  of  my  house  ?  Here  it  is.  It  is 
situated  in  the  "  Howse,"  or  back  street,  between  the  Salt  Gate 
and  the  East  Gate,  and  within  four  minutes'  walk  of  the  busiest 
part  of  the  city.  The  street  itself  has  few  shops,  but  it  is  a  great 
thoroughfare.  The  house  is  separated  from  the  east  wall  only  by 
a  narrow  lane,  and  by  the  aid  of  a  pile  of  rubbish  close  by,  I  can 
get  up  on  the  wall  without  difficulty.  It  looks  toward  the  south- 
west, or  rather  west-south-west.  But  please  inspect  this  plan  of 
the  house,  which  will  give  you  a  better  idea  of  it. 

This  is  the  ground 
floor.  Entering  by  the 
great  door,  is  the  front 
court,  stone  paved,  about 
thirty  by  fifteen  feet. 
Nos.  1  and  2  are  small 
chambers,  perhaps  ten 
by  eight,  which  I  have 
no  particular  use  for. 
Nos.  3  and  7  are  pas- 
sage ways,  in  each  of 
which  is  a  stair-case  to 
go  up  stairs,  but  the  stair-case  in  No.  7  is  not  used  just  now.  In 
No.  4  I  keep  my  Chinese  tracts,  &c.,  and  my  teacher  has  a  table 
where  he  sits  and  writes.  At  present  the  servants  sleep  in  No.  6. 
No.  8  is  the  kitchen,  and  No.  9  is  a  private  place.  The  back 
court  is  about  twenty  by  six  feet.  No.  5  is  the  reception  hall, 
where  is  a  table,  four  chairs,  and  some  Chinese  pictures,  all  of 


This  wall  is  about  nine  feet  high. 


%                       BACk    COURT 

8 

7 

3 

4 

10 

6 

5 

PORTICO 

2 

FRONT  COURT 
D 

1 

Thia  wall  ia  about  twelve  feet  high. 


LETTERS. 


355 


Qw 


0 


OC 


which  together  cost  less  than  five  dollars.  It  is  only  an  earthen 
floor,  as  are  all  the  lower  parts  except  Nos.  4  and  6.  No.  10  is 
a  little  room  of  no  particular  use,  but  does  very  well  for  boxes,  &c. 
Please  come  up  stairs. 

No.  1  is  the  stair-way  and  lit- 
tle passage  annexed ;  2  is  a 
store-room  or  spare-room  ;  3  is 
my  bed-room  ;  and  4  is  my  par- 
lor, study,  and  dining-room; 
A  A  A  are  doors  ;  B  B  B  windows, 
at  present  nailed  up ;  c  c  c  are  windows  with  only  window-shut- 
ters ;  D  D  D  are  windows  with  six  panes  of  glass  each.  Please  now 
to  sit  down  in  my  parlor  and  look  around. 

The  room  is  about  eighteen 
feet  square,  being  the  largest  in 
the  house,  the  rooms  below  are 
deeper  but  not  so  wide.  In  this 
room  the  back  windows,  B  B,  are 
nailed  up  ;  I  shall  open  them  in 
summer,  s  is  my  fire-place,  a 
great  awkward  concern.  I  mean 
to  take  it  away  when  the 
weather  grows  mild,  and  put  another  between  B  B.  o  is  a  little 
table  ;  R,  a  couch  ;  w  w,  two  Chinese  book-cases,  one  filled  with 
Mr.  L's.  present  of  the  books  of  the  Board  of  Publication  ;  T  is  my 
round  centre  and  dining  table;  M  is  my  study  table;  and  N  is  a 
little  table  to  keep  my  case  of  books  in  every-day  use,  to  wit, 
Morrison's  Dictionary,  &c.  The  door  A  I  keep  shut,  as  it  is  of  no 
use.  In  summer  I  think  of  having  the  stairs  to  come  up  where 
the  fire-place  is.  This  will  cut  off  some  of  my  room,  but  it  will  be 
greatly  more  convenient,  and  will  obviate  the  necessity  of  coming 
up  through  the  store-room  and  bed-room. 

In  my  bed-room  I  have  a  single  bedstead,  bureau,  a  Macao  book- 
case full  of  books,  wash-stand,  and  the  mission  money-chest,  be- 
sides one  or  two  trunks ;  and  in  the  store-room  only  some  two  or 
three  boxes  of  my  damaged  books.  So  you  have  been  all  through 
my  house ;  it  is  rather  too  good  for  me,  but  I  could  not  get  any 
other,  and  I  was  tired  of  living  in  the  temple,  which  was  out  of  the 
way,  and  not  very  pleasant  in  some  respects.  The  house  is  large 
too,  but  then  I  can  the  more  easily  accommodate  a  friend.  The 
rent  is  nine  dollars  a  month,  and  I  have  had  no  little  trouble  about 
it  this  week,  but  it  is  all  settled  now  I  believe. 

I  am  sorry  you  put  yourself  to  the  trouble  of  getting  the  maple- 
sugar.  I  will  tell  you  what  I  do  want  though,  very  much  indeed, 
and  that  is  two  of  the  best  rat-traps  that  a  missionary  ought  to 
possess.  What  big  rats  there  are  here.  One  end  of  my  blanket 
happened  to  fall  on  the  floor,  and  the  rats  gnawed  a  hole  in  it.  It 
is  the  only  blanket  I  have  got,  and  I  cannot  afford  to  have  it  eaten 
by  rats.  Well,  I  awoke  during  the  night,  and  behold,  a  party  of 


356  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

rats  were  dancing  a  jig  on  my  bed-room  floor.  I  dare  say,  if  you 
would  send  me  half  a  dozen  good  rat-traps,  I  could  dispose  of  them 
all,  for  I  am  not  the  only  sufferer ;  but  do  send  me  two,  and  I  will 
send  you  the  first  pretty  vase  I  can  find.  I  hope  father  will  not 
laugh  at  all  this.  .  .  . 

Ever  affectionately  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  February  3d,  1846. 
REV.  LEVI  JANVIER — 

DEAR  BROTHER  : — Your  very  welcome  letter  of  March  and 
April  reached  me  September  9,  in  the  midst  of  our  annual  meeting 
here.  I  had  not  intended  to  defer  writing  so  long,  but  being  sec- 
retary, and  having  to  copy  all  the  minutes  twice,  write  the  annual 
report,  and  a  copy  of  it,  the  circular  of  the  mission,  and  other 
things  besides,  I  have  had  little  time  or  inclination  for  any  corres- 
pondence that  I  could  at  all  postpone.  I  wish  I  had  some  way  of 
diminishing  my  correspondence,  for  it  forms  a  pretty  serious  part 
of  my  work  here.  I  do  not  mean  with  you,  and  such  as  you,  for 
that  is  a  relaxation  and  a  pleasure ;  but  I  am  sometimes  quite  as- 
tonished to  find  how  much  time  is  taken  in  writing  to  persons  of 
whom  I  know  little  or  nothing.  I  find  a  hundred  copies  of  the 
circular  of  the  mission  not  more  than  sufficient  for  my  wants. 
Why  do  I  have  so  many?  you  will  say.  Because  I  cannot  help 
it.  Some  I  do  not  want  to  give  up ;  some  do  not  want  me  to  give 
them  up ;  and  to  some  I  can  do  a  little  good  by  writing,  and  per- 
haps exert  some  good  influence  on  them.  But  enough  of  this. 

I  was  very  sorry  to  hear  of  the  death  of  your  little  boy.  I  saw 
it.  I  think,  in  the  Friend  of  India,  before  you  wrote.  I  trust  your 
little  girl  is  still  spared  to  you.  As  to  myself,  I  am  still  enjoying 
the  blessedness  of  single  life,  having  a  whole  house  to  "  Fanny" 
(my  dog)  and  myself,  with  two  Chinese  servants,  who  speak  not 
a  word  of  English,  and  not  another  foreigner  within  a  mile  of  me, 
and  often  for  a  day  or  two,  or  more,  not  seeing  the  face  of  one. 
But  with  all  these  advantages,  I  am  making  but  poor  progress  in 
this  language.  I  am  hoping,  within  the  present  year,  to  be  able 
to  commence  preaching.  You,  I  suppose,  are  quite  fluent  by  this 
time,  in  your  new  tongue,  as  you  talk  about  "preaching."  How- 
ever, I  should  have  been  preaching  before  now,  had  I  all  the  time 
since  coming  to  China  enjoyed  half  the  advantages  for  learning  the 
language  that  I  do  now. 

The  weather  here  is  real  winter.  For  twelve  days  in  succes- 
sion, we  had  ice  every  night  more  than  an  inch  thick.  We  have 
had  two  or  three  light  falls  of  snow,  and  a  fire  is  very  comfortable, 
and  I  suppose  will  be  so  for  two  months  yet.  The  lowest  we  have 
had  the  thermometer  has  been  20°,  but  it  generally  ranges  from 
35°  to  44°  or  46°.  I  have  not  seen  it  above  the  latter  point  for 
more  than  two  months,  except  in  the  middle  of  the  sunshiny  days. 


LETTERS.  357 

....  Did  you  ever  examine  2  Cor.  ii.  14 — 17?  I  preached  on  it 
yesterday,  and  it  is  a  very  solemn  and  almost  awful  subject,  full 
of  consolation,  and  yet  full  of  terror.  Since  writing  to  you  last.  I 
have  adopted  many  of  the  millenarian  views,  in  regard  to  the  sec- 
ond advent  of  Christ,  return  of  the  Jews,  &c.,  and  they  seem  to 
make  many  things  in  the  history  of  missions  that  were  dark  be 
fore,  much  more  plain  and  encouraging.  I  find  much  satisfaction 
in  them,  and  often  long  inexpressibly  for  the  "  coming  and  appear- 
ing" of  our  Lord.  Oh,  to  be  found  doing  his  work  when  he  comes, 
and  not  idling  in  the  field  to  which  he  has  sent  me !  With  my 
Christian  regards  to  your  wife  and  associates,  believe  me, 
Ever  yours  in  the  gospel  and  the  ministry  of  Christ, 

W,  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  February  22d,  1846. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

Your  very  welcome  letter  of  August  4,  came  to  hand  January 
26.  The  other  articles  sent  at  the  same  time,  have  not  yet  been 
received.  I  am  exceedingly  grateful  to  you  for  the  copy  of  the 
"  Exploring  Expedition."  I  had  been  longing  for  a  copy,  and  had 
it  at  my  finger's  end  to  send  for  it  several  times,  but  1  was  really 
ashamed  to  do  so.  I  have  received  so  many  things  from  you  and 
others,  that  it  seems  as  if  I  ought  not  to  get  any  more.  Indeed.  I 
often  think  I  fare  far  better  even  in  temporal  things,  than  if  I  had 
stayed  at  honie,  and  the  load  of  obligations  to  my  heavenly  Father 
is  often  almost  greater  than  I  can  bear.  A  sense  of  my  cfwn  un- 
profitableness and  uselessness,  while  receiving  so  many  mercies, 
has  made  me  feel  very  unhappy. 

In  learning  to  read  this  difficult  language,  I  am  getting  on  tol- 
erably well — a  multitude  of  petty  occupations,  connected  with  the 
press,  correcting  font  of  type,  accounts,  &c.,  keeps  me  from  giving 
much  time  to  composition. 

I  commenced  a  Chinese  letter  to  you  on  my  birthday,  the  8th 
inst.,  but  found  it  so  hard  that  I  gave  it  over,  after  a  sentence  or 
two,  and  have  not  since  had  time  to  resume  it.  However,  I  will 
try  and  send  you  one  soon. 

I  have  read  carefully  your  remarks  on  Millenarianism,  and  the 
article  in  the  Chronicle,  in  which  there  is  much  that  I  believe,  and 
somethings  from  which  I  might  differ.  I  think  the^  expression 
awrfleiuv  rov  uitavov  a  very  different  one  from  telog  -lokkoopov,  and 
it  is  a  mystery  to  rne  how  our  going  to  the  Lord  at  death,  can  be 
equivalent  to  his  "  coming  to  us,"  which  he  commands  us  to  watch 
for.  The  fact  that  there  is  such  a  remarkable  difference  between 
the  phraseology  of  the  New  Testament,  and  the  phraseology  of 
Christians,  strikes  me  as  very  strange.  Christ  and  the  apostles 
constantly  exhort  to  prepare,  to  watch  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord; 
but  most  people  say,  "  watch  for  the  coming  of  death."  I  do  not 
think  these  two  are  the  same  thing.  I  have  looked  death  in  the 


358  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

face,  and  by  the  great  grace  of  Christ,  could  do  so  without  fear; 
but  I  could  not  say  to  death  what  we  are  taught  to  say  to  Christ, 
"  Come  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly." 

I  have  no  doubt,  that  until  the  awTtleia  zou  auavov,  the  present 
means,  and  only  the  present  means  for  the  conversion  of  sinners, 
are  to  be  used.  I  think  he  would  do  very  wrong  who  would  say, 
that  "  The  world  will  not  be  converted  by  these  means,  and  there- 
fore we  need  not  use  them,"  for  though  I  do  not  expect  the  world 
to  be  converted  during  the  present  dispensation,  by  such  means, 
yet  I  do  expect  that  all  the  elect,  be  they  few  or  many,  will,  by 
the  foolishness  of  preaching,  be  saved.  The  elect,  too,  during  the 
present  dispensation,  are  scattered  throughout  the  known  world, 
and  millenarianism,  as  I  have  embraced  it,  makes  it  peculiarly  the 
duty  of  the  church  to  go  throughout  the  world  and  carry  the  gos- 
pel, for  until  the  gospel  is  preached  unto  all  nations,  the  millenium 
cannot  come.  What  means  shall  be  used  after  the  coming  of 
Christ,  I  do  not  pretend  to  say.  They  maybe  the  present  means, 
though  that  does  not  seem  to  be  clearly  revealed.  But  if  they  are 
the  present  means,  there  must  be  a  power  and  efficiency  given  to 
them,  such  as  was  not  witnessed  even  on  the  day  of  pentecost ; 
otherwise,  I  do  not  see  how  the  promises  are  to  be  fulfilled.  Still 
I  do  not  pretend  to  make  my  weak  vision  the  measure  of 'omnip- 
otence. 

I  do  not  think  there  will  ever  be  any  revelation  from  God  sub- 
verting the  present  Bible,  but  I  do  not  see  what  there  is  in  the 
Bible  saying  that  no  further  revelation  will  be  given,  or  why  we 
may  not  expect  a  revelation  as  much  in  advance  of  the  Christian 
as  the  Christian  is  in  advance  of  the  Levitical.  Certainly,  when 
"  the  people  are  all  righteous,"  when  "  there  are  none  to  hurt  or 
destroy  in  all  the  holy  mountain,"  it  would  sound  strange  to  hear 
a  sermon  on  the  text,  "  Broad  is  the  gate,  many  go  in  thereat ; 
strait  is  the  way,  few  walk  therein  :"  (I  only  quote  the  sense.) 
When  "Kings  are  nursing  fathers,  queens  nursing  mothers,  and 
great  the  peace  of  thy  people,"  although  it  will  be  profitable  to  look 
back  to  the  times  of  trial,  yet  it  can  hardly  be  said,  that  "  all  that 
will  live  godly  shall  suffer  persecution."  When  Satan  is  "  bound," 
even  if  only  a  figurative  binding,  he  can  hardly  be  said  to  "  go 
about  as  a  roaring  lion."  Now  the  greater  part  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament is  intended  for  times  of  trial,  just  as  the  greater  part  of 
the  books  of  Moses  was  intended  for  the  land  of  Palestine.  Will 
it  be  appropriate  when  "  the  wilderness  shall  rejoice  and  blossom 
as  the  rose  ?"  But  I  did  not  mean  to  write  all  this.  However 
much  in  error  you  may  deem  me  on  some  points,  do  not  think  me 
in  error  on  the  grand  ones  of  human  depravity,  the  atonement  of 
Christ,  and  the  influences  of  the  Spirit.  These  must  always  re- 
main the  same,  whate\  er  differences  there  may  be  in  the  external 
means  by  which  they  are  regulated.  It  is  to  me  a  very  pleasant 
thought,  that  Christ  shall  reign  in  honor  where  he  was  crucified 
in  ignominy  and  scorn ;  that  this  fair  and  beautiful  earth  shall  be 


LETTERS.  359 

redeemed  ;  and  that  we  may  reasonably  look  for  his  glorious  ap- 
pearing soon  to  take  to  him  his  great  power  and  reign.  How 
soon,  I  do  not  pretend  to  say;  but  it  is  my  daily  prayer,  that  if 
you  and  I  live  to  see  it,  we  may  each  be  found  watching  for  him 
in  the  sphere  he  has  appointed,  so  that  if  he  cometh  we  may  be 
ready.  You  will  ask,  "  Why  do  I  trouble  myself  with  these  new 
notions  ?  Why  is  not  the  old  belief,  (though  it  is  not  the  old  be- 
lief,) about  our  going  to  Him,  good  enough  ?"  It  would  be  good 
enough,  and  far  too  good,  for  such  a  creature  as  I  feel  myself  to 
be,  and  if  it  be  the  truth  of  Scripture,  I  am  most  heartily  willing 
to  receive  it ;  but  with  such  light  as  I  have,  after  much  prayer 
and  searching  of  the  Scriptures,  it  does  not  seem  to  me  to  be  all 
that  is  promised.  I  should  be  most  thankful  to  pick  the  crumbs, 
but  if  called  and  commanded  to  the  feast,  it  does  not  seem  to  be 
humility  or  obedience  to  turn  away. 

But  I  will  stop  now.  Pray  for  me,  that  I  may  not  embrace  or 
teach  error,  even  on  points  not  essential  to  salvation.  With  many 
affectionate  remembrances, 

I  am,  as  ever,  your  dutiful  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  March  6th,  1846. 
REV.  DANIEL  WELLS — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : — The  news  you  sent  me  from  Mr.  Ja- 
cobus' church  was  deeply  gratifying.  Since  the  novelty  of  mission- 
ary life  has  worn  off,  I  have  learned  to  prize  more  highly  the 
prayers  of  God's  people  at  home.  If  those  good  people  could  but 
see  a  little  of  a  missionary's  heart,  and  the  crowd  of  thoughts  that 
pass  there,  they  would  think  these  prayers  might  be  of  much 
service.  When  one's  own  corruptions  fill  his  heart  with  sorrow  ; 
when,  amidst  all  his  efforts  at  a  strange  language,  he  finds  him- 
self making  but  slow  progress ;  when  he  finds  the  people  utterly 
dead  to  all  his  warnings,  and  intent  only  on  gain;  when  he* sees 
the  laborers  few,  and  the  field  so  great,  and  occupied  by  those  who 
are  sowing  tares — O,  wonder  not  if  he  asks  almost  despairingly, 
"  Can  these  dry  bones  live  ?"  Lord  God,  thou  knowest !  It  does 
not  require  many  months'  experience  among  the  heathen  to  be 
satisfied,  that  it  is  "not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  the  Spirit 

of  the  Lord,"  that  our  work  is  to  become  successful 

Ever  yours  in  Christian  affection, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  April  21st,  1846. 
REV.  JOHN  LLOYD — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : — It  is  now  near  four  months  since  I 
wrote  to  you,  but  you  will  believe  me  when  I  say,  that  if  I  have 
not  written  I  have  at  least  not  forgotten  you,  and  often  try  to 


360  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

remember  you,  where  I  trust  you  remember  me,  at  a  throne  of 
grace.  I  could  give  you  the  usual  string  of  apologies  ;  Chinese, 
reading  proofs,  keeping  accounts,  answering  letters  ;  but  I  fear  if 
I  did  so,  it  would  make  you  think  I  was  doing  a  great  deal,  when 
in  fact  weeks  pass  away  and  I  seem  to  have  done  nothing,  to 
have  really  made  no  progress,  and  have  to  cry  out  for  mercy  to 
the  unprofitable  servant.  How  would  Calvin,  or  men  of  half  his 
mind,  smile  at  the  idea  of  all  I  do  being  called  work !  I  fancy 
that  hundreds  of  men  do  as  much  before  breakfast  as  I  do  in  a 
whole  day.  I  find  it  a  very  serious  drawback  in  my  study  and 
acquirement  of  the  language,  that  so  much  of  the  best  part  of 
my  missionary  life  was  spent  where  the  dialect  I  was  studying 
was  not  spoken.  Although  I  know  more  of  books  than  any 
other  here,  yet  McCartee  speaks  incomparably  better  than  I  do, 
and  both  Culbertson  and  Loomis  will  probably  be  preaching  be- 
fore me.  What  in  the  world  should  I  do  among  the  "  tones"  of 
your  delightful  dialect?  I  fancy  I  should  be  among  them  like  a 
certain  Presbyterian  clergyman,  who  attempted  to  conduct  the 
Episcopal  service  once,  and  had  it  reported  of  him  afterwards 
that  "  he  wandered  up  and  down  among  the  prayers,  like  a  blind 
man  among  the  tombs." 

This  reminds  me  that  in  your  last  you  speak  of  our  having  no 
tones  in  this  dialect.  This  is  to  a  great  extent,  but  not  entirely, 
the  case.  The  tones  are  necessary  in  some  words  ;  but  generally 
speaking,  if  you  get  the  idiomatic  expression,  you  need  not  bother 
your  head  about  the  tones ;  and  none  of  us  pay  any  theoretical 
attention  whatever  to  their  acquisition.  It  is  a  pretty  good  proof 
of  their  not  being  necessary,  that  the  Fuhkeen  men,  of  whom 
there  are  many  here,  cannot  learn  to  speak  this  dialect  well. 
The  remark  is  often  made  that  "you  foreigners  speak  Ningpo 
dialect  better  than  the  Fuhkeen  people;"  and  imperfect  as  my 
acquirements  are  in  speaking,  I  have  been  told  a  dozen  times  that 
I  pronounce  better  than  the  Fuhkeen  men.  If  I  could  only  get 
among  the  people,  and  not  see  a  book  or  a  foreigner  for  six 
months  or  a  year,  I  think  there  would  be  some  hopes ;  and  I 
often  half  wish  some  person  would  run  away  with  me,  and  keep 
me  captive  for  a  while,  for  otherwise  I  do  not  see  how  I  am  to 
get  away.  Well,  all  this  is  egotism,  and  much  of  it  is  nonsense ; 
but  I  beg  you  to  receive  it  as  a  proof  how  much  I  care  for  you, 
that  I  let  you  see  such  effusions,  and  how  much  I  do  not  care  for 
you,  or  I  would  not  let  you  see  them. 

I  have  just  been  interrupted  by  a  long  talk  from  a  couple  of 
Chinese,  who  talked  so  fast  that  the  words  came  out  like  a  mill- 
stream,  and  all  I  could  do  was  to  gather  the  drift  of  the  discourse 
and  let  the  particular  words  vanish  into  thin  air.  I  wish  I  could  talk 
as  much  as  I  can  understand  !  But  patience,  perseverance,  and 
prayer  !  Oh  to  be  kept  from  growing  weary  or  careless  in  God's 
work.  I  did  not  feel  afraid  of  this  in  the  first  year  or  two ;  but 
now  it  requires  much  watchfulness  and  prayer,  lest  I  become 


LETTERS.  J61 

weary  or  discouraged.  You  have  much  reason  for  thankfulness 
that  you  got  to  your  field  so  soon,  and  have  not  quite  so  many 
letters  to  write,  as  I  had  during  rny  first  two  years ;  but  I  ought 
not  to  complain  of  them,  for  it  was  my  appointed  work,  since  the 
providence  of  God  repeatedly  prevented  me  from  taking  any  other 
course,  and  perhaps  it  was  the  best  on  the  whole.  But  as  I  look  over 
my  past  life,  and  especially  that  part  spent  in  missionary  ground, 
I  have  to  pray,  "  pardon  the  unprofitable,  erring,  sinful  servant !" 

It  is  so  late,  having  been  so  interrupted  by  the  conversation 
above  referred  to,  that  I  must  close  my  sheet  for  the  night,  hoping 
to  be  able  to  finish  to-morrow,  though  I  know  not  when  a  letter 
can  be  sent  from  here.  If  the  overland  route  answers,  we  will 
try  and  send  in  that  way. 

I  think  Mr.  Smith  has  led  you  into  a  mistake,  on  the  point  of 
the  "  two  dialects."  As  far  as  I  know,  in  all  parts  of  China,  the 
written  and  the  colloquial  dialects  differ  so  widely  as  to  be  really 
two  languages.  This  is  the  case  here,  for  Ningpo  colloquial  can- 
not be  written  with  Chinese  characters.  True,  many  words, 
perhaps  one-half,  are  the  same  in  the  two  ;  but  you  never  can 
tell  from  seeing  a  character  in  a  book  whether  it  can  be  used  in 
speaking,  unless  your  teacher  tells  you.  Jin  is  spoken  nying ; 
urh  tz  is  spoken  'ny  tz  ;  chay-ko  is  spoken  kihko,  while  Joo-tsze 
which  is  book  Mandarin,  and  chay-yang  which  is  colloquial 
Mandarin,  meaning,  "  so  fashion,"  or  "  in  this  way,"  in  one  dia- 
lect is  sz'-ka-go,  which  cannot  be  written  at  all,  i.  e.,  has  no 
characters  to  express  it ;  though  characters  might  be  arbitrarily 
employed,  which  would  give  the  sound.  This  is  the  case  with 
hundreds  of  words  in  common  use. 

I  was  both  pleased  and  surprised  to  hear  how  much  missionary 
work  is  done  in  Amoy.  Would  that  we  could  report  the  half  of 
it  here  !  But  except  tract  distributing,  at  which  we  all  do  a  litile, 
there  is  no  preaching  excepting  by  Dr.  McCartee,  who  has  a  service 
every  Sabbath,  and  talks  to  the  people  frequently  during  the 
week.  I  have  tried  once  or  twice,  J3ut,  like  the  man  who  tried  to 
swim  before  he  had  been  in  the  water,  succeeded  so  poorly,  that  I 
feel  afraid  to  try  again.  I  conduct  service  with  my  servants 
morning  and  evening,  and  hope  I  shall  soon  be  able  to  set  up  a 
meeting  which  might  be  called  "  a  parish  meeting,"  i.  e.,  not  a 
regular  preaching  service,  but  a  preparatory  one,  which  will  pre- 
pare me  for  preaching.  I  have  been  much  thrown  back  by  not 
having  been  able  to  get  a  teacher  on  whom  I  could  depend  for 
giving  me  the  colloquial  expressions.  The  one  I  had  for  nine 
months  after  coining  was  a  capital  scholar,  but  proud,  disobliging, 
or  rather  unobliging,  and  took  no  interest  in  anything  of  the 
kind.  After  bearing  with  him  till  I  could  bear  no  longer,  I  turned 
him  off  and  got  another,  who  was  so  stupid  that  I  kept  him  only 
a  month.  Yesterday  I  got  a  new  one,  and  he  has  taken  such 
"strong  hold"  as  quite  astonishes  me.  "A  new  broom  sweeps 
clean  ;"  but  this  man  is  a  scholar,  appears  to  be  a  gentleman,  is 


362  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

quite  obliging,  lively,  patient,  apt  to  teach,  and  on  two  days'  ac- 
quaintance 1  am  greatly  pleased.  I  hope  he  will  hold  out,  but  I 
greatly  fear.  If  he  does  well,  and  if  he  becomes  a  Christian,  Oh, 
how  I  should  rejoice  !  With  a  good  teacher,  who  was  a  real 
Christian,  I  think  I  might  be  of  very  much  more  use  than  I  am 
now. 

You  speak  of  "  feeling  as  safe  as  if  in  New  York  or  Philadel- 
phia." I  feel  the  same  here.  I  live  a  mile  from  any  foreigner, 
and  have  frequently  walked  two  miles  through  the  city  after  eight 
or  nine  o'clock,  P.  M.,  without  a  lantern  or  any  company,  with  less 
apprehension  than  I  would  go  through  many  parts  of  New  York 
city.  The  people  here  are  generally  very  well  behaved,  and  very 
civil. 

As  to  mandarins,  we  see  none  of  them  ;  we  do  not  visit  them, 
and  are  not  visited  by  them.  The  English  consul  has  discour- 
aged visiting,  and  foreigners,  except  officers,  seldom  go  near  them. 
There  is  a  white-buttoned  one  whom  Dr.  McCartee  and  I  have 
called  on,  and  been  called  on  by ;  and  last  year  we  had  frequent 
calls  from  travelling  mandarins  with  gilt  and  white  buttons,  who 
came  to  see  the  strangers ;  but  of  late  I-have  seen  none,  and  do 
not  feel  any  anxiety  to  meet  them.  You  get  in  with  them  at 
Amoy.  because  of  the  important  fact  that  Abeel  and  Boone  and 
Cummings  have  had  to  act  as  interpreters,  when  there  were  none 
but  missionaries  to  interpret,  and  as  the  mandarins  of  course  know 
of  no  difference  between  you  and  others,  they  keep  up  the  acquain- 
tance. 

We  are  all  moving  on  very  quietly  and  pleasantly.  The  weather 
is  getting  pleasantly  warm,  but  even  yet  I  like  to  sit  with  my  fur 
coat  on  in  the  mornings  and  evenings,  and  have  as  yet  laid  aside 
neither  flannels  nor  woollen  stockings.  It  has  rained  almost 
every  day  this  month,  and  in  consequence  of  so  much  rain  now, 
and  the  probability  of  very  little  next  month,  when  it  will  be  much 
wanted,  fears  of  a  scarcity  of  rice  prevail,  and  it  is  already  rising 
in  price.  As  to  ships,  there  has  not  been  one  here,  except  men 
of  war,  since  last  August.  I  do  not  know  how  we  are  to  get  our 
funds  after  Chusan  is  given  up.  Our  letters  we  shall  manage  to 
get  overland  from  Shanghai. 

We  have  bought  a  burying-gronnd  here,  about  one  hundred 
feet  by  fifty,  for  fifty  dollars.  Abraham's  first  possession  in  the 
land  where  he  was  a  stranger,  was  a  burying-ground. 

Your  brother  in  Christ. 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ning-po,  July  9th,  1846. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

Your  t  w )  most  acceptable  letters  of  November,  1845,  and  Febru- 
ary, 1846,  came,  one  in  the  end  of  May,  and  the  other  to-day.  I 
cannot  tell  you  how  much  I  am  obliged  for  your  good  long  letters  : 


LETTERS.  363 

the  journals  of  your  trips  to  Washington  and  to  Albany,  were 
deeply  interesting.  I  wish  I  could  give  you  an  account  of  half  as 
much  done  by  myself,  but  all  my  performances  seem  to  me  of 
small  account.  Here  is  a  specimen  of  to-day's  employment.  Rose 
before  six.  Our  nights  are  warm,  and  following  on  warmer  days, 
I  do  not  derive  the  refreshment  from  them  that  I  could  wish. 
After  breakfast  and  prayers,  went  over  the  river  to  see  after  the 
printing  office,  got  a  proof  to  correct,  and  came  back ;  it  was  ten 
o'clock  when  I  got  home,  and  thermometer  then  at  903 ;  sat  down 
with  my  teacher  and  went  over  Acts  xvii.,  on  which  he  wrote 
comments  by  my  explanations.  Then  read  some  in  Mencius,  and 
looked  over  some  points  in  Chinese  history,  and  some  notices  of 
two  or  three  of  their  sages.  By  this  time  it  was  one  o'clock,  and 
the  thermometer  had  risen  to  98°  in  my  coolest  room.  I  was 
pretty  well  tired,  and  told  my  teacher  that  was  enough  for  to-day; 
came  up  stairs,  corrected  the  proof  for  the  press,  and  finished  the 
first  draught  of  a  letter,  one  of  a  series  which  I  am  preparing  for 
the  Foreign  Missionary.  This  and  dinner  kept  me  till  three 
o'clock ;  all  this  time  the  thermometer  at  blood  heat ;  and  though 
a  pleasant  breeze  blowing,  yet  coming  in  at  times  as  if  out  of  a 
furnace.  I  have  never  known  such  warm  weather  since  I  have 
been  in  China,  and  it  so  relaxes  the  whole  system,  that  a  very 
little  labor  is  quite  sufficient  to  lay  a  man  by.  At  three  I  felt  so 
tired  that  I  lay  down,  and  between  reading  a  little  and  dozing, 
vvhiled  away  the  time  till  five  ;  then  got  up,  found  it  a  little  cooler, 
sat  in  the  breeze  and  read  an  account  of  the  synod  of  Dort  till  six. 
Went  out  then  for  a  walk ;  went  through  a  number  of  streets, 
and  found  everybody  out  of  doors,  men  all  half  naked,  and  many 
of  the  children  entirely  so,  and  the  heat  given  out  from  the  stones 
and  houses  so  great  as  to  be  very  oppressive.  This,  and  the  foul 
odors  arising  from  the  filth  common  to  every  Chinese  city,  were 
such  that  I  was  glad  to  get  on  the  city  wall,  and  turn  my  steps 
homeward.  Somewhat  of  a  breeze  on  the  wall,  and  getting  to 
my  own  house  about  sunset,  I  sat  down  to  enjoy  it.  Presently  a 
man  came  along  and  seemed  anxious  to  say  something ;  so  he 
asked  if  I  would  take  a  smoke?  I  told  him,  no,  I  did  not  smoke, 
and  asked  him  to  sit  down.  Then  he  asked  how  old  I  was? 
Where  I  came  from  ?  Where  I  lived  ?  &c.,  &c.  By  this  time 
others  came,  one,  two,  five,  ten,  and  soon  there  were  about  fifty 
persons  collected  to  see  and  hear  the  Hungnan-nying,  (Red-haired 
man,  as  they  call  all  Englishmen.)  Asked  a  good  many  ques- 
tions, and  in  the  course  of  the  talk,  gave  me  an  opportunity  of 
saying  several  things  very  pointedly  about  the  folly  of  idolatry, 
the  importance  of  attending  to  one's  soul,  and  the  way  of  salva- 
tion through  Christ.  Speaking  of  Jesus,  one  of  the  men  remarked 
that  he  supposed  Jesus  was  much  such  a  person  as  Confucius. 
"No,  Confucius  was  only  a  man,  but  Christ  was  far  superior  to 
men."  Was  listened  to  with  as  much  attention  and  interest  as  I 
have  been  at  any  time,  and  found  it  gave  me  some  access  to  them, 


364  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

when  they  found  that  I  had  read  and  could  give  the  sense  of  their 
own  books.  There  was  one  man  there  from  Shantung,  but  I 
could  understand  very  little,  of  what  he  said.  He  seemed,  how- 
ever, to  have  no  difficulty  in  understanding  all  I  said,  and  seemed 
much  interested.  Gave  away  some  tracts  ;  gave  a  copy  of  "  The 
Two  Friends,"  to  one  whose  appearance  had  pleased  me.  He 
looked  at  it  and  asked  if  all  I  had  were  alike,  and  begged  for  a 
copy  of  another  kind.  Came  away,  all  of  them  giving  me  a 
hearty  good-by,  and  one  or  two  joining  their  hands  and  thanking 
me  for  the  books  and  doctrine.  Came  back  home,  got  my  tea,  and 
set  down  to  this  letter,  which  I  suppose  will  take  all  the  rest  of  the 
evening.  The  thermometer  is  now  down  to  91°.  I  am  sitting 
in  a  thin  grass  cloth  suit,  and  feeling  comparatively  comfortable 
after  the  hot  day. 

In  some  of  my  previous  letters,  I  have  probably  given  you  to 
understand  that  I  was  much  discouraged  about  learning  to  speak 
this  language.  This  arose  in  a  measure  from  the  unfaithfulness  of 
a  teacher  whom  I  employed  after  coming  here.  For  a  while  I 
learned  a  good  deal,  and  as  he  was  a  capital  scholar,  I  wanted  to 
keep  him.  But  after  being  with  me  a  few  months  he  found  out 
what  words  I  knew,  and  would  use  no  others,  so  that  during  the 
last  four  months  I  had  Kim,  I  scarcely  learned  a  new  phrase.  I 
disliked  to  turn  him  off,  because  in  some  things  he  suited  me  ad- 
mirably, being  good  at  explaining  the  classics,  and  besides  he  was 
poor :  but  at  last  I  could  endure  it  no  longer.  It  was  then  some 
two  months  before  I  could  get  a  good  teacher.  If  I  could  go 
about  as  some  others  can,  I  should  be  less  dependent  on  a  teacher, 
but  my  disposition  does  not  lead  me  to  delight  in  promiscuous 
company ;  and  somehow  I  have  the  knack  of  getting  a  large 
share  of  the  writing,  book-keeping,  proof  correcting,  &c.,  of  the 
mission  into  my  hands,  which  gives  me  less  time  than  I  could 
wish  for  visiting  and  going  about.  However,  I  have  been  favored 
in  getting  a  first-rate  teacher,  and  have  gained  so  much  in  the 
last  two  months  as  quite  encourages  me ;  and  it  is  my  present 
expectation,  (Deo  volente,)  to  commence  a  regular  religious  service 
in  Chinese  when  the  warm  weather  is  over.  I  might  do  it  now, 
but  prefer  not  undertaking  what  would  necessarily  require  a  good 
deal  of  labor  in  preparation,  until  the  present  oppressive  season  is 
past,  and  in  the  mean  time,  go  about  a  little  and  talk  as  I  did  to- 
night, which  is  a  help  in  perfecting  my  pronunciation,  and  en- 
abling me  to  speak  without  embarrassment.  In  the  course  of  the 
present  year,  I  hope  we  shall  have  several  of  our  number  actively 
employed  in  preaching. 

...  I  quite  agree  with  you  in  the  general  principle,  that  a  wife 
should  not  always  take  her  husband  home.  Still  in  many  cases. 

a  wife  cannot  go  alone.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  H ,  (of  the  L.  M.  S.,) 

went  home  last  year  on  account  of  her  health,  and  she  died  be- 
fore she  got  to  England.  Mrs.  J.  S ,  went  without  her  hus- 
band, and  took  her  children,  (five  or  six,  one  very  young;)  she 


LETTERS.  365 

died  on  the  voyage.  I  have  not  heard  how  the  children  got  home. 
It  is  this  that  makes  it  so  difficult  for  a  woman  to  go  alone.  Few 
missionaries  have  left  China  of  late  for  their  health,  till  they  were 
well  nigh  broken  down,  and  it  requires  no  small  resolution  to  send 
off  a  sick  wife  on  a  long  voyage,  especially  if  she  have  children 
to  take  care  of.  What  is  to  be  done?  For  a  while  I  was  tempted 
to  wish  that  missionaries  could  live  without  wives ;  but  after  more 
experience  and  reflection,  I  am  satisfied  that  all  men  cannot  re- 
ceive this  saying.  Even  if  unmarried  men  could  be  contented 
and  happy,  yet  there  are  other,  and  serious  objections.  I  have 
seen  more  than  one  or  two  cases  in  which  I  thought  the  bachelor 
missionary,  merry  and  cheerful  as  he  professed  to  be,  would  have 
been  not  simply  a  happier  man,  but  a  more  humane,  thoughtful, 
sober,  useful  missionary,  and  a  far  better  example  to  the  heathen, 
if  he  had  been  married  ;  and  where  example  is  of  such  vital  im- 
portance as  it  is  here,  whatever  conduces  to  render  it  better,  is  not 

to  be  overlooked 

Your  affectionate  and  obedient  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  August  10th,  1846. 
REV.  JOHN  C.  LOWRIE — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : — .  .  .  I  heard  of  Mr.  Dod's  death,  but  had 
not  heard  of  Mrs.  P.'s.  How  many  gaps  there  are  already  in  the  cir- 
cle of  my  acquaintances  at  home !  You  will  not  perceive  it  so 
much  as  you  are  constantly  making  new  ones,  but  mine  are  only 
decreasing :  so  be  it.  "  I  am  a  stranger  in  the  earth,"  and  never 
so  happy  as  when  I  feel  it  most. 

This  has  been  an  oppressingly  hot  summer.  I  will  send  you  a 
notice  of  it  soon.  I  doubt  whether  you  saw  the  equal  of  it  in  In- 
dia. For  days  together  we  have  had  the  thermometer  up  to  100°, 
but  most  providentially,  it  always  fell  12°  or  14°  at  night.  June, 
July,  and  the  first  week  of  this  month  were  roasters  ;  but  the  worst 
is  over  now,  and  it  felt  quite  delicious  to-day  when  the  thermome- 
ter got  up  only  to  88£°.  Then  we  have  had  a  drought  all  sum- 
mer ;  rumors  of  poisoning ;  alarms  of  evil  spirits,  and  an  earth- 
quake, a  veritable  earthquake,  which  shook  the  houses  right  mer- 
rily, and  wakened  every  man,  woman  and  child  in  Ningpo.  Such 
screaming  !  and  beating  of  gongs  !  and  firing  of  crackers  !  I  will 
send  you  accounts  of  all  these  presently.  I  have  them  all  in  my 
journal.  The  earthquake  was  on  the  4th  instant,  about  three 
o'clock,  A.  M.  It  did  no  harm,  but  it  frightened  the  people  terribly, 
especially  as  they  were  then  under  extreme  alarm,  from  a  panic 
occasioned  by  the  belief  that  there  are  thousands  of  evil  spirits  bent 
on  mischief  in  the  city.  With  all  the  melancholy  arising  from 
seeing  them  so  wholly  given  up  to  such  superstition,  it  is  yet  most 
iudicrous  to  see  what  tales  they  can  invent.  The  panic  is  dying 
away  now,  but  when  we  found  the  people  giving  credence  to  such 


366  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

tales,  we  began  to  fear  that  evil  might  come  out  of  it.  There  is 
no  joke  in  it,  however,  for  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loomis  have  just  come 
over  from  Cluisan,  not  being  allowed  to  remain  there,  and  can  get 
no  house  here,  on  account  of  the  panic  and  fear  of  evil  spirits, 
which  are  supposed  to  have  some  connection  with  foreigners.  .  .  . 
Pray  for  me,  and  believe  me  ever, 

Your  affectionate  brother,         W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo.  August  13th,  1846.  ' 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

Your  long  letter,  February  11,  came  July  29,  about  a  month  af- 
ter some  letters  sent  in  the  same  ship,  which  I  received  before 
yours.  I  need  not  say  how  glad  I  was  to  get  it.  ... 

So  many  changes  have  occurred  among  my  acquaintances  in 
New  York,  that  I  should  feel  quite  like  a  stranger  there.  .  .  I  can 
hardly  realize  that  I  am  already  in  my  twenty-eighth  year.  When 
shall  I  grow  to  the  stature  of  a  perfect  man  in  Christ  Jesus? 
Sometimes  I  feel  lonely ;  sometimes  long  for  a  bosom  Christian 
friend  ;  sometimes  long  for  the  wings  of  a  dove  to  fly  away  ;  and 
then  again,  oh  how  cold,  and  dark,  and  dead.  It  seems  to  me  the 
longer  I  live  the  less  I  know  or  do,  and  the  harder  and  worse  I  be- 
come, so  that  I  feel  ashamed  to  get  the  kind  letters  that  are  sent 
me  from  home,  and  almost  hope  you  will  not  send  any  more  books, 
or  papers,  or  remembrances,  that  seem  almost  thrown  away  on  one 
so  worthless  as  I  am.  I  seem  to  be  getting  selfish  of  late,  and  it 
often  distresses  me.  Perhaps  you  will  say,  "  all  this  is  but  depres- 
sion of  spirits."  Perhaps  it  is,  and  as  I  become  stronger  with  the 
returning  cold  weather,  and  can  do  more,  it  may  go  away.  .  . 

Good  night,  and  much  love  to  all. 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


j  August  26th,  1846. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

....  Our  excessive  hot  weather  is  now  over,  and  though  the 
days  are  sometimes  warm,  the  nights  are  delightful,  and  we  are 
all  in  the  enjoyment  of  excellent  health.  My  appetite  and  strength 
are  returning  rapidly,  and  the  summer,  notwithstanding  my  fears 
in  June,  has  been  the  most  comfortable  1  have  spent  in  China.  I 
have  not  done  much  for  two  months  past,  however,  for  it  is  really  too 
much  labor  to  study  or  work  with  the  thermometer  at  blood  heat. 

Of  late,  I  have  been  busily  engaged  in  collating  notes  and  quo- 
tations, on  the  proper  word  for  expressing  the  name  of  the  Su- 
preme Being,  in  Chinese.  The  weight  of  authority,  i.  e.,  most  of 
the  most,  learned  missionaries,  have  given  their  influence  in  favor 
of  using  Shang-te,  but  many  others  dislike  the  term  exceedingly, 
as  being  the  proper  name  of  the  chief  Chinese  god  ;  and  when  we 
use  it,  the  people  at  once  say,  "  oh  yes,  that's  our  Shaug-te."  I 


LETTERS.  367 

have  satisfied  myself  pretty  well  that  Shin  is  the  proper  word  to 
use.  ...  If  this  word  is  adopted,  it  will  then  become  almost  neces- 
sary to  use  the  word  Poo  s&  in  colloquial,  though  many  have  taken 
up  a  strange  prejudice  against  the  word,  as  if  it  meant  an  idol,  and 
was  a  contemptuous  or  dishonorable  term.  Nothing  can  be  more 
contrary  to  the  fact,  and  I  have  found  myself  in  my  efforts  to  talk 
to  the  people,  almost  compelled  to  use  it,  there  being  no  other  term 
in  the  language  which  expresses  so  well  and  so  intelligibly,  what 
we  mean  by  God.  It  is  a  little  troublesome  in  preparing  articles 
of  this  kind,  not  to  have  the  proper  books  at  hand  for  reference. 
My  library  is,  I  believe,  the  best  in  Ningpo,  (unless  Mr.  T  — 
has  a  better,  which  I  doubt.)  but  I  found  it  quite  insufficient  for 
my  wants,  as  I  know  of  several  books  which  would  have  materially 
helped  me,  but  had  them  not. 

Everything  goes  on  very  pleasantly  and  harmoniously  in  the  mis- 
sion ;  but  the  great  things,  life,  and  vigor,  and  zeal,  are  lament- 
ably wanting.  How  easy  it  is,  even  for  the  missionary,  Urseek  for 
pleasure  in  everything  but  in  God.  I  am  often  cast  down,  and 
sometimes  deeply  discouraged,  to  find  in  me  so  little  love  for  my 
Saviour,  and  so  little  disposition  to  active  exertion.  Instead  of 
coming  nearer  and  nearer,  and  being  more  conformed  to  God,  I 
seem  to  be  going  farther  and  farther  away.  I  trust  that  no  one 
else  here  is  so  low  or  so  useless  as  I  often  feel  myself  to  be.  The 
sense  of  my  own  worthlessness  often  makes  me  unwilling  to  send 
for  such  things  in  the  way  of  books  as  I  need,  (and  there  is  very 
little  else  that  I  feel  any  want  of,)  and  even  unwilling  to  receive 
all  the  kind  presents  and  letters  that  are  sent  to  me.  Oh,  for  more 
purity,  and  zeal,  and  love — to  be  like  Christ.  Do  not  cease  to  pray 
for  my  spiritual  well-being. 

Believe  me  as  ever,  your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  September  3d,  1846. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

The  clock  has  struck  eleven,  and  I  ought  to  be  in  bed,  but  I  feel 
as  if  I  wanted  to  write  to  you,  though  I  do  not  know  that  I  have 
much  to  say.  I  was  writing  a  sermon  this  evening  to  preach  on 
the  next  Sabbath,  for  I  still  write  sermons  occasionally,  and  get- 
ting it  finished  before  eight  o'clock,  I  was  a  little  at  a  loss  what  to 
do,  for  I  did  not  feel  like  reading  or  studying  after  that.  So  I  took 
out  a  package  containing  the  letters  received  from  father  and  you, 
during  the  first  two  years  of  my  life  in  China.  Getting  interested, 
I  kept  at  them  till  nearly  eleven  o'clock,  and  then  felt  as  if  1 
wanted  to  thank  you  more  heartily  than  I  had  ever  done  for  all 
your  affection,  and  sympathy,  and  kindness  to  me.  Of  course  I 
could  not  read  them  all  over,  but  I  glanced  over  each,  and  read 
parts  of  them,  and  many  a  tear  fell  as  1  recalled  the  scenes 
through  which  I  had  passed,  and  your  deep  sympathies  with  me, 


368  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

It  is  good  to  weep  sometimes,  and  I  often  wish  I  could  weep 
more  over  my  own  sinfulness  and  uselessness.  Ii  is  nearly  five 
years  since  I  have  seen  you  ;  sometimes  I  catch  myself  asking, 
"  Shall  I  see  you  again  '?"  and  then  again,  "  But  how  is  it  possi- 
ble ?"  I  was  discouraged  a  few  months  ago,  for  fear  I  never 
would  learn  this  language,  but  for  (he  last  seven  months  I  have 
made  such  progress  that  I  should  be  loath  on  any  account  to 
leave  this  field  of  labor.  1  think  now  my  prospects  of  acquiring  a 
pretty  thorough  and  extensive  knowledge  of  it  are  quite  fair;  and 
if  so,  then  here  is  my  field,  and  here  would  I  gladly  labor,  and  die, 
or,  if  the  Lord  pleases,  abide  till  he  comes.*  It  would  be  a  sad 
thing  not  to  be  at  my  post  when  he  comes,  though  much  I  fear 
that  I  shall  not  stand  before  him  without  blushing  for  my  mani- 
fold imperfections,  and  great  unprofitableness.  Yet  if  I  may  be 
of  a  little  use  here,  it  will  abundantly  repay  me ;  and  at  present  I 
can  conceive  of  scarcely  anything  that  would  be  so  painful  as  to 
go  back  to  the  United  States  without  an  unmistakable  call  to  do 
so.  It  does  seem  to  me  as  if  I  could  not  do  it.  How  much  of 
this  may  be  from  a  desire  to  preserve  my  reputation,  I  will  not  pre- 
tend to  say,  but  among  other  motives,  I  trust  that  of  preaching  Christ 
to  these  poor  idolaters  is  not  the  least.  How  wretched  is  their 
condition  !  I  stood  at  my  window  the  other  day,  and  saw  an  idola- 
trous procession  goby,  till  my  heart  asked,  "Oh, Lord,  how  long?" 

But  I  am  wandering  from  my  purpose,  which  was  more  imme- 
diately to  tell  you  how  I  felt  in  recalling  the  trials  and  events  of  the 
first  few  months  of  my  life  out  in  China.  Somehow,  they  seem 
to  have  happened  much  longer  ago  than  is  really  the  case.  Most 
of  them  seem  to  have  occurred  ten  years  ago;  and  I  sometimes 
think  of  them  as  if  they  had  happened  to  another  person.  How 
•nucli  goodness  and  mercy  were  mingled  with  them  all.  I  was 
much  struck,  too,  in  reading  your  letters,  to  notice  how  many  that 

I  knew  when  with  you  are  already  dead  :  Miss  P ,  Miss  R , 

M T ,  H V ,  F ,  Miss  H— ,  and  so  many 

others.  Some  that  were  careless  then,  are  pious  now.  Changes, 
breaking  up,  and  settling  down  : — I  am  more  at  home  here  than  I 
should  be  in  the  United  Sates. 

I  am  commonly  very  happy,  all  but  in  one  thing ;  I  have  so  little 
grace.  Pray  for  me.  It  is  a  hard  thing  to  keep  the  flame  of  piety 
burning  bright  when  the  sickening  blasts  of  idolatry  blow  on  the 
soul,  and  there  are  few  to  speak  of  Christ.  Oh  for  the  time  to 
come  when  he  will  take  to  Himself  his  great  power  and  reign.  I 
hope  my  MillenariLnism  will  not  offend  you.  I  find  unspeakable 
comfort  at  times  in  thinking  of  his  ';  appearing,"  willing  to  labor 
till  he  comes,  but  saying,  "  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly."  What  a 
glorious  time  it*will  be  !  He  came  once,  and  though  he  came  to 
suffer  and  to  die,  yet  even  then  the  "groaning  creation"  was  on 
tip-toe  to  receive  him.  The  winds  heard  his  voice,  the  waves 
became  solid  beneath  his  feet,  the  fish  came  at  his  command,  the 
tree  shook  down  its  leaves  when  he  spoke.  Good  angels  hovered 


LETTERS.  369 

near,  and  devils  fled  at  his  word.  If  all  this  happened  when  he 
came  to  be  "a  servant,"  what  will  it  be  when  he  comes  "to  reign?" 
and  we  shall  reign  with  him.  Yes,  forever  and  ever.  Now,  you 
believe  all  this,  of  course,  as  firmly  *as  I  do.  though  we  may  differ 
as  to  the  time.  I  think  it  may  happen  in  our  day,  but  it  will 
certainly  happen  some  day.  Oh  to  be  accepted  when  he  comes  ! 
Who  will  think  of  labors,  or  trials,  or  separations  then  ?  "  So 
shall  we  be  ever  with  the  Lord."  It  makes  me  wonder,  how  can 
he  condescend  so  low  ?  how  is  it  possible  we  can  be  lifted  up  so 
high  1  But  ''  fear  not,  little  flock,  it  is  your  Father's  good  pleas- 
ure to  give  you  the  kingdom."  It  is  his  "good  pleasure,"  and  so 
we  shall  have  it.  If  it  were  our  "  good  deeds,"  we  might  despair. 
Thanks  be  unto  God  for  his  unspeakable  gift. 

I  do  not  write  so  much  and  so  freely  as  I  used  to ;  and  I  some- 
times fear  you  may  think  I  am  forgetting,  or  losing  my  affection 
for  you  ;  but  it  is  not  so.  I  have  more  to  do  than  I  used  to  have, 
though  I  do  not  seem  to  accomplish  much,  and  it  is  often  of  such 
a  kind  as  indisposes  me  for  the  free  and  easy  letters  I  would  like 
to  write.  But  nothing  brings  tears  more  easily  to  my  eyes  than  to 
recall  past  hours  with  you,. and  I  sometimes  seem  to  live  them 
over  again.  Well !  here  is  the  last  corner  of  the  sheet,  and  though 
I  have  not  said  much,  yet  it  seems  like  a  relief  to  say  even  this, 
disjointed  as  it  is.  It  is  nearly  midnight, — high  noon  with  you. 
How  often  is  it  so  in  life  !  Bright  noon  and  joy  with  one,  and 
perhaps  his  dearest  friend  at  the  same  moment  in  midnight  gloom, 
but  the  Sun  is  still  in  his  place,  as  bright  and  cheering  as  ever ; 
and  "when  I  awake,  I  am  still  with  thee."  I  presume  you  know 
my  meaning.  I  have  not  space  to  enlarge  it,  and  so  write  here 
Ever  affectionately  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE.        * 


Ningpo,  September  15th,  1846. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

....  You  will  unite  with  us  in  thanksgiving,  that  we  have 
been  permitted  to  receive  a  Chinese,  a  native  of  this  place,  into  the 
church.  He  was  for  a  long  time,  eight  or  ten  months,  under 
pretty  constant  instruction  and  examination,  and  gave  us  every 
satisfaction  before  being  admitted  to  the  church.  He  is  employed 
by  Miss  Aldersey,  who  has  been  very  faithful  to  him  in  teaching 
him. 

....  I  got  my  head  full  of  a  notion  of  preparing  a  Dictionary 
of  the  Four  Books  the  other  day,  and  may  perhaps  try  to  make 
something  out  of  it.  There  is  no  existing  dictionary  by  which  a 
Chinese  student  can  read  even  the  Four  Books  with  satisfaction. 
Morrison's  is  the  best.  My  plan  would  be  to  make  a  Dictionary, 
1st.  Of  all  the  words  in  the  Four  Books,  about  2500  :  this  would 
be  the  great  body  of  characters  used  in  the  language — Dyer's  list 
having  only  3500.'  2d.  To  give  all  the  meanings  of  each  word  that 

24 


370  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

occurs  in  the  Four  Books,  which,  as  they  are  the  foundation  of 
the  literature  of  China,  would  be  by  much  the  greater  part  of  the 
important  definitions  needed.  3d.  To  give  pretty  full  biographical 
notices  of  all  the  persons,  and  notices  also  of  the  places  mentioned 
in  the  Four  Books  :  this  would  give  nearly  everything  that  is 
important  in  ancient  Chinese  history.  The  above  is  the  better 
half  of  what  I  have  cut  out.  To  do  it,  without  interfering  with 
my  more  direct  and  more  important  missionary  labors,  would  re- 
quire between  two  and  three  years.  Should  this  plan  succeed,  I 
might  afterwards  try  my  hand  at  a  more  important  and  ambitious 
effort,  i.  e.,  a  Dictionary  of  the  language ;  but  this  is  so  vast  an 
undertaking,  that  at  present  I  have  little  idea  of  trying  it.  The 
Dictionary  of  the  Four  Books  I  think  I  can  manage,  and  it  would 
be  an  important  contribution  towards  a  general  -dictionary.  I 
have  not  spoken  of  it  to  any  one,  and  do  not  wish  to  do  so,  as 
so  many  things  may  interfere,  but  I  should  be  very  glad  to  get  all 
the  assistance  possible  in  it,  even  if  only  for  my  own  advance- 
ment. I  should  like  to  get  the  translations  published  at  Paris 
and  Berlin.  I  do  not  know  where  the  money  is  to  come  from  for 
all  these,  but  if  you  can  manage  to  get  them  for  me,  or  for  the 
mission,  all  the  same,  I  should  be  very  glad.  I  hope  you  will  not 
say  1  am  engaged  in  any  such  work,  for  I  am  not  yet  so  commit- 
ted to  it  that  I  feel  myself  bound  to  continue  it'  even  to  myself; 
and  if  I  did  commence  it,  I  would  not  want  it  known,  till  I  was 
in  a  situation  not  to  fear  the  reproach  of  beginning  without  count- 
ing the  cost. 

I  have  been  a  good  deal  encouraged  of  late  in  my  hopes  of 
learning  the  language,  and  if  God  spares  my  life,  and  gives  rne 
health,  I  think  there  is  a  reasonable  prospect  of  my  becoming  a 
*  tolerably  thorough  scholar.  My  early  education,  for  which,  under 
God,  I  am  most  indebted  to  you,  gives  me  some  qualifications  for 
it,  which,  I  trust  it  is  not  vanity  alone  tells  me,  are  not  possessed 

by  all  those  who  have  gone  before  me  to  this  field 

Ever  your  affectionate  son,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  December  9th,  1846. 
JAMES  LENOX.  ESQ. — 

MY  DEAR  SIR  : — Your  letter  of  April  20th  has  been  lying  by 
me  for  some  three  months,  a  longer  period  than  visually  elapses 
before  I  answer  letters  ;  but  my  time  has  been  much  occupied 
with  writing  appointed  me  by  the  mission,  and  with  the  prepara- 
tion of  my  weekly  Chinese  discourses,  which  take  much  of  the 
time  that  I  once  gave  to  correspondents. 

I  am  exceedingly  obliged  for  your  kindness  in  regard  to  the 
books.  On  several  occasions  we  have  been  very  glad  to  have 
some  at  hand  ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  they  have  been  a  means  of 
doing  good,  by  being  put  in  the  hands  of  persons  who  would  other- 
wise have  had  few  or  no  religious  books  near  them. 


LETTERS.  371 

I  do  not  think  the  books  for  the  blind  would  .be  of  service  here. 
They  are,  of  course,  in  the  English  language,  and  it  could  hardly 
be  considered  a  profitable  employment  for  us  to  turn  from  the 
multitudes  around  us,  and  spend  time  in  teaching  a  few  blind 
persons  to  read  a  strange  language.  One  or  two  at  each  station, 
as  a  curiosity,  and  to  show  the  Chinese  the  comprehensive  benev- 
olence of  Christian  society,  which  regards  even  the;  dumb  and  the 
blind,  would  doubtless  be  interesting.  My  teacher  was  exceed- 
ingly astonished  the  other  day,  when  I  showed  him  a  hymn  for 
the  blind,  which  I  happened  to  have,  in  raised  letters.  The  idea 
had  never  occurred  to  him  before.  I  fear  it  would  be  impossible 
to  adapt  it  to  the  Chinese  language.  Even  with  "  the  skin  burnt 
off,"  the  fingers  could  not  appreciate  the  fine  lines  of  our  many 
thousands  of  characters.  They  are  trying  enough  even  to  the 
eyes. 

I  have  been  trying  to  teach  ray  teacher  lessons  in  music,  partly 
with  a  view  of  finding  thereby  what  are  their  ideas  of  music  ;  but  the 
experiment  has  not  been  very  successful,  partly,  no  doubt,  because 
I  know  so  little  of  music  myself.  I  wish,  (when  will  wishes  end  ?) 
that  we  had  some  missionaries  here,  who  were  adepts  in  musical 
composition,  to  study  the  nature  of  Chinese  music,  improve  it,  and 
compose  tunes  suited  to  Chinese  poetry.  It  seems  to  me  rather 
incongruous  to  tack  Ortonville,  Old  Hundred,  &c.,  tunes  composed 
for  English  words,  to  Chinese  poetry.  In  Luther's  judgment, 
music  composed  for  Latin  poems  was  unsuited  to  German  verse  ; 
and  if  so,  foreign  music  must  be  still  more  unfit  for  Chinese  verse. 
But  I  feel  at  present  comparatively  little  interest  in  singing  Chi- 
nese poetry,  from  the  fact  that  it  is  so  utterly  unintelligible  to  the 
mass  of  the  people.  This  language,  I  mean  as  written,  is  one  of 
the  greatest  possible  barriers  to  the  spread  of  the  gospel  here.  I 
may  be  mistaken,  but  to  me  the  conclusion  seems  irresistible,  that 
till  a  change  as  great  as  that  which  came  over  the  languages  of 
Europe  at  the  Reformation,  comes  over  this  language,  it  will  be 
unfit  for  the  extensive  dissemination  of  truth  among  the  mass  of 
the  people  ; — I  mean,  of  course,  the  written  language.  We  can 
now  preach  the  gospel  in  the  spoken  language ;  but  the  spoken 
language  is  not  a  written  language ;  and  thus,  as  far  as  the  mass 
of  the  people  are  concernedj  we  have  no  means  of  reaching  them, 
except  by  the  living  preacher,  or  such  of  their  own  educated  peo- 
ple as  may  feel  interest  enough  in  our  books  to  explain  them  to 
the  people.  Why  not  write  the  spoken  language  ?  It  may  be 
done,  but  not  in  a  day,  nor  in  a  year.  I  hope  to  see  a  beginning 
made  in  rny  day,  but  it  must  come  gradually,  and  against  strong 
opposition  and  contempt  from  the  literati  of  the  country.  We 
think  of  preparing  some  books,  or  rather  sheet  tracts,  in  the  col- 
loquial language  of  this  province;  and,  as  a  means  of  making 
them  attractive,  in  spite  of  the  contempt  of  the  people  for  what 
seerns  to  them  so  low,  we  want  to  have  them  illustrated  with  pic- 
tures. Pictures  are  like  the  corks  which  hold  a  man  up  in  the 


372  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

water  oftentimes  ;  at  least,  many  a  book  is  read  at  home  for  the 
sake  of  the  pictures,  and  there  is  no  reason  why  it  should  not  be 
so  here  ;  and  we  shall  soon  make  an  apj  lication  to  the  Committee 
to  send  us  out  a  good  supply  of  the  pictures  of  birds,  beasts,  uten- 
sils, and  various  figures,  prepared  by  type-founders,  which  are  pre- 
cisely what  we  want;  and  I  feel  disposed  to  speak  for  your  vote 
in  the  Committee  beforehand.  Some  might  laugh  at  the  idea  of 
sending  such  things  to  a  mission-station  ;  but  really,  a  picture  of 
a  steamboat,  or  railroad  car,  with  a  suitable  description,  or  pictures 
of  the  costumes  and  customs  of  different  countries,  with  short  ac- 
counts of  them,  would  do  more  to  arouse  a  spirit  of  inquiry,  and 
awaken  the  dormant  mind  of  this  people,  than  a  person  at  home, 
accustomed  from  infancy  to  such  things,  could  well  imagine. 
Such  a  book  as  the  New  England  Primer,  well  translated  into  the 
colloquial  dialects  of  this  country,  and  with  good  pictures,  would 
be  a  national  blessing.  The  book  would  be  eagerly  taken  and 
read  for  the  sake  of  the  pictures.  It  may  be  said,  this  is  treating 
the  Chinese  like  children  ;  but  the  fact  is,  the  wisest  of  them  are 
ignorant  of  things  which  every  child  knows  at  home  ;  and  amidst 
all  the  diversity  of  talents  which  we  require,  and  can  employ  here, 
scarcely  any  is  better  than  aptness  to  be  an  "  instructor  of  babes." 
....  Much  as  the  return  of  missionaries  is  deplored  by  our 
friends  at  home,  it  can  hardly  be  felt  by  you  so  much  as  it  is  by 
us  ;  its  effects  here  are  almost  always  more  sensibly  felt  than  at 
home.  Our  little  number  diminished,  men  of  experience  taken 
away,  the  remaining  parties  discouraged  ;  the  heathen,  judging 
from  one,  that  all  are  equally  uncertain  to  remain,  and  hence  feel- 
ing less  interest  in  us  ;  are  only  a  part  of  the  difficulties.  But  has 
the  question  ever  been  fairly  studied  and  looked  at,  at  home  ?  It 
is  felt  that  something  is  wrong,  but  who  knows  where  to  lay  the 
blame  ?  or  where  to  apply  the  remedy  ?  A  thought  has  often  oc- 
curred to  me,  which  yet  I  feel  some  delicacy  in  expressing.  The 
difficulty,  or  one  difficulty  is,  that  the  Church  expects  of  the  mis- 
sionary what  the  mass  of  church-members  would  not  do  them- 
selves. Now  it  is  hard  for  the  stream  to  rise  higher  than  the  foun- 
tain ;  and  missionaries  generally  possess  very  little,  if  any  more 
piety  than  Christians  at  home.  It  does  seem  unreasonable  for 
those  who  stay  at  home,  and  know  comparatively  little  of  the 
pains  of  separation  from  friends,  of  loneliness  and  isolation  among 
the  heathen,  to  say  to  their  missionaries,  "  Good  brethren,  go ; 
and  the  blessing  of  God  go  with  you.  We  will  support  you,  and 
pray  for  you,  (?)  and  think  of  you,  and  read  your  letters  ; — but 
do  not  come  back  here.  If  you  do,  it  must  be  at  the  risk  of  los- 
ing much  of  your  influence,  and  being  thought  to  be  tired  of  your 
work,  and  you  had  better  not  come."  Doubtless,  many  of  the 
best  friends  of  missions  would  be  far  from  using  such  language, 
and  yet  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  it  is  the  feeling  of  the  mass.  It 
is  a  serious  question  whether  those  who  use  such  language,  or 
feel  such  sentiments,  are  entitled  to  use  it;  or  whether  they  should 


LETTERS.  373 

not,  first,  pluck  out  the  beam  before  they  spy  the  mote.  Now  it 
strikes  me  that  it  would  be  better  to  say,  "  Go  brethren,  and  labor 
faithfully,  and  as  long  as  you  can.  We  will  do  our  part.  We  do 
not  expect,  and  we  do  not  wish  you,  to  forget  your  father  land. 
You  have  the  feelings  of  men  and  women,  of  sons  and  daughters, 
and  it  is  natural  and  right,  that  you  should  at  times  long  for 
Christian  intercourse  with  the  great  congregation,  and  the  family 
fireside.  Should  these  feelings  become  strong  in  you,  we  shall 
not  interfere  with  your  once  more  visiting  your  aged  parents  ;  but 
shall  welcome  you  among  your  friends,  and  endeavor  to  fit  you 
to  go  forth  again  with  renewed  vigor  to  your  work.  Only  re- 
member you  are  the  Lord's,  and  may  not  needlessly  or  extrava- 
gantly use  his  time,  even  for  objects  so  sacred,  as  cultivating  the 
kindlier  feelings  of  your  hearts."  Some  such  language  as  this, 
expresses  the  feeling  I  would  like  to  see  among  the  churches.  My 
meaning  is,  that  it  ought  to  be  understood  and  allowed,  and  in 
many  cases  approved,  that  a  missionary,  after  a  certain  time, 
should  have  the  right  to  return  home  on  a  visit.  The  Church 
ought  not  to  require  exile,  as  many  seem  disposed  to  do.  I  am 
satisfied  that  to  have  it  understood  on  all  hands,  that  a  man  had 
a  right  to  see  once  more,  those  whom  he  cannot  but  long  to  see, 
would  have  no  tendency  to  increase  the  number  of  returns  home. 
It  would  make  most  men  and  women  better  contented  to  stay  and 
labor  ten  years,  if  they  felt  that  at  the  end  of  that  time  there 
would  be  no  obstacle  to  a  visit  home  if  desired.  And  a  person 
who  had  spent  ten  years  in  heathen  land,  would  not,  after  that, 
want  to  leave  it  finally,  if  he  had  the  smallest  portion  of  true 
missionary  spirit.  If  he  did,  it  would  probably  be  better  that  he 
should.  It  seems  to  me,  that  the  prospect  of  a  cheerful  visit  home 
would  encourage  many  a  man  to  labor  on,  and  to  form  his  plans 
for  life  here,  who  might  be  appalled  by  the  idea  of  a  lifetime,  unre- 
lieved by  any  such  prospect ;  nor  do  I  see  how  the  mass  of  Chris- 
tians can  object  to  this,  without  either  condemning  themselves  for 
their  own  want  of  self-denial,  or  else  requiring  of  their  missionaries 
to  renounce  many  of  the  finest  feelings  of  their  nature. 

In  the  English  army  in  India,  the  officers  are  allowed  after  ten 
years'  service,  three  years'  furlough ;  and  after  twenty  years,  to 
retire  finally.  I  should  be  sorry  to  see  the  latter  regulation  ap- 
plied to  our  warfare ;  but  at  present  it  strikes  me,  that  the  priv- 
ilege of  a  visit  home,  after  every  ten  years  of  service,  for  a  much 
less  period  than  three  years,  would  be  a  saving  both  of  men  and 
money  in  the  missionary  cause.  There  are  some  who  would  not 
embrace  it ;  most  persons  probably  would.  It  would  make  their 
first  ten  years  pass  more  pleasantly  away,  and  it  would  revive 
them  bodily,  and  mentally,  and  spiritually,  for  the  next  ten  years  ; 
and  at  the  end  of  twenty  years,  if  they  wanted  to  leave  the  mis- 
sionary field  it  would  probably  be  for  sufficient  reasons.  .  .  . 

Believe  me,  my  dear  sir,  very  truly  yours,  in  Christian  bonds, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


374  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

Ningfio,  December  31st,  1846. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

I  have  been  writing  ray  weekly  Chinese  sermon  this  evening; 
and  after  writing  rather  more  than  half,  finding  that  I  had  still 
a  spare  hour  before  bed-time,  I  thought  I  could  not  do  better  than 
spend  it  in  a  letter  to  yourself.  I  write  a  sermon  in  Chinese  every 
week ;  about  eight  pages ;  not  so  large  as  a  letter-paper  sheet. 
This  I  look  over  several  times,  especially  on  Sunday  ;  put  up  a 
notice  on  my  doors,  that  in  the  afternoon  there  will  be  preaching ; 
and  open  my  doors  shortly  after  dinner — say  at  half-past  two.  One 
of  my  servants,  or  my  teacher,  stands  at  the  door  and  invites  pass- 
ers-by to  come  in.  The  great  difficulty  is  to  get  an  audience  to 
begin  with.  My  house  is  in  a  part  of  the  city  where  there  are  not 
many  respectable  residents  near,  but  it  is  on  a  thoroughfare,  with 
many  passers-by,  and  with  any  attraction  there  is  no  difficulty  in 
getting  people  to  stop.  I  commonly  commence  as  soon  as  there 
are  five  or  six  present,  and  if  the  weather  be  at  all  fair,  I  am  pretty 
sure  in  five  or  ten  minutes  to  have  from  fifteen  to  forty  persons. 
My  discourses  are  extempore,  i.  e.,  I  read  my  written  sermon  care- 
fully, and  then  leaving  it  in  my  desk,  go  down  stairs,  and,  as  the 
Scotch  say,  "  overtake"  as  much  of  it  as  I  can.  It  commonly 
takes  me  twenty  minutes  to  get  through,  but  this  is  a  strange 
tongue,  and  to  an  audience  not  very  attentive,  is  as  fatiguing  as  a 
sermon  forty  or  fifty  minutes  long  would  be  in  a  small  church  at 
home.  By  the  time  I  am  done,  it  has  several  times  happened  that 
the  house  and  verandah  were  quite  full ;  and  as  people,  seeing  a 
crowd,  still  keep  coming  in,  I  have  several  times,  after  giving 
away  a  few  books,  and  talking  a  little  separately  to  a  few  persons, 
got  up  and  preached  the  same  discourse  right  over  to  an  entirely 
new  audience.  In  this  way  I  have  the  opportunity  of  preaching 
to  from  fifty  to  a  hundred  persons  every  Sabbath,  and  I  expect 
generally  to  adopt  this  course.  After  the  discourse  is  over,  I  offer 
a  short  prayer,  all  standing.  As  to  my  own  fluency,  perhaps  the 
less  said  the  better ;  but  I  find  these  services,  both  in  preparation 
and  in  delivery,  are  not  so  appalling  or  difficult,  as  were  my  first 
efforts  at  preaching  at  home  ;  and  this  very  polite  people  compli- 
ment me  exceedingly  on  speaking  the  language  so  well.  It  is  not 
at  all  uncommon  to  hear  them  say,  "  Why  he  speaks  our  language 
with  a  full  mouth !  How  can  a  foreigner  learn  to  speak  it  so 
well?  Why,  a  Fuhkeen  man  would  not  speak  so  well  in  ten 
years,"  &c.  I  think  there  can  be  no  doubt  that,  difficult  as  this 
dialect  is,  it  is  one  of  the  easiest  in  China ;  and  were  I  less  of  a 
recluse,  or  fonder  of  company,  I  might  soon  be  a  fluent  speaker. 
Dr.  McCartee,  who  has  more  freedom  of  tongue  than  I  have,  talks 
like  a  native,  and  has  a  command  of  words  quite  unexampled  in 
a  person  who  has  been  so  short  a  time  in  China. 

We  are  all  talking  of  building  now,  but  as  yet  no  one  has  got 
a  place  to  build  on.  We  find  the  present  plan  is  Poo  chung — 


LETTERS.  375 

"  does  not  meet  our  wishes,"  as  the  Chinese  say.  The  houses  do 
very  well  for  a  while,  but  they  want  so  many  repairs,  and  the  rent 
and  repairs  come  to  so  much,  that  we  begin  to  think  building  with 
all  its  troubles  better  than  renting. 

The  members  of  the  mission  are  all  in  very  good  health.  1 
know  of  nothing  of  special  interest  among  us.  I  am  ordered  by 
the  mission  to  write  for  a  second  printing  press;  but  as  the  letter 
will  go  overland,  I  suppose  you  will  get  it  before  this. 

What  is  to  be  done  about  procuring  Chinese  books?  I  am  now 
beginning  to  be  able  to  use  a  Chinese  book,  and  want  a  library. 
I  have  already  two  hundred  volumes,  (Chinese,)  but  my  pocket  is 
empty  now.  Is  there  any  appropriation  for  books?  Hitherto  I 
have  paid  for  all  mine  out  of  the  money  Mr.  —  —  gave  me,  or 
what  I  could  save  out  of  my  own  salary.  But  the  former  sum 
was  used  up  long  ago,  in  buying  elementary  books,  and  a  set  of 
the  Chinese  Repository,  and  I  have  now  used  up  all  of  my  salary 
I  can  spare  for  the  present  year.  To  be  sure,  I  shall  not  read  all 
I  have  got  for  many  a  year,  but  I  shall  want  to  refer  to- most  of 
them,  and  to  others  too,  very  soon.  A  good  mission  library  would 
obviate  the  necessity  for  any  member  of  the  mission  buying  a 
number  of  works  that  would  be  contained  in  it;  but  there  are 
others  which  each  person  should  have  for  himself.  Hitherto  none 
of  the  books  I  have  bought  have  been  paid  out  of  the  mission 
funds,  and  I  should  prefer  not  to  get  any  with  the  mission  money 
if  I  can  avoid  it. 

I  still  keep  at  preparing  a  dictionary  of  the  Four  Books,  spend- 
ing two  or  three  hours  every  day  at  it.  It  is  a  very  pleasant  recre- 
ation, and  I  find  it  one  of  the  best  modes  for  getting  accurate  ideas 
of  the  sense  of  characters,  so  that  it  will  be  time  well  spent,  if  never 
a  line  sees  the  light.  I  thought  at  first  that  there  were  about 
two  thousand  five  hundred  characters  in  the  Four  Books,  but  on 
counting,  as  I  have  made  out  a  list,  I  find  there  are  about  two 
thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty.  I  have  already  noted  down  one 
or  more,  sometimes  eight  or  ten,  significations  to  about  one  thou- 
sand two  hundred  of  them.  But  this  is  not  the-  half,  nor  the  hard- 
est part  of  the  work.  I  think,  however,  if  I  go  on  as  I  have 
begun,  that  I  may  get  all  the  significations  noted  down  in  four  or 
five  months  more ;  and  then  eight  months'  moderate  work  would 
bring  it  into  a  state  fit  to  see  the  light.  Since  writing  to  you  at 
first,  however,  I  have  thought  of  extending  it  so  as  to  include  the 
Shoo-king  and  She-king,  or  Book  of  Records  and  Book  of  Odes. 
This  would  increase  the  number  of  characters  to  about  three  thou- 
sand five  hundred.  My  plan  would  include  pretty  full  biograph- 
ical and  historical  notices  of  China,  from  the  days  of  Yaou  and 
Shun  to  those  of  Mencitis,  say  from  B.  C.  2100  to  B.  C.  300,  and 
would  make  a  large  quarto  volume. 

If  the  work  were  well  done,  it  would  be  invaluable.  If  even 
moderately  well  done,  it  would  be  of  much  utility.  I  have  no  idea 
that  I  could  do  it  well,  and  doubt  whether  I  could  do  it  moderately 


376  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

well.  The  actual  expense  of  printing  and  binding  five  hundred 
copies  would  be  under  a  thousand  dollars.  After  the  first  hundred 
were  sold,  say  at  six  to  eight  dollars  a  volume,  it  would  have  but  a 
slow  sale.  I  would  cheerfully  make  it  over  to  the  Mission  or  the 
Board,  if  they  would  undertake  the  expense  of  publication.  The 
estimates  alone  are  mere  guesswork,  as  I  have  not  yet  made  suf- 
ficient progress  to  encourage  me  to  think  of  looking  seriously  to 
publication,  nor  would  I  trouble  you  with  these  accounts  now, 
were  it  not  that  by  the  time  I  can  hear  from  you,  I  shall  want  to 
know  a  little  what  your  views  are.  I  shall  probably  know  defi- 
nitely whether  I  shall  be  able  to  do  anything  or  not ;  and  if  then 
I  feel  disposed  to  continue,  a  good  deal  will  depend  on  the  proba- 
bilities of  getting  it  published.  The  Shoo-King,  She-King,  and 
Four  Books,  are  pretty  complete  ;  and  no  other  books  would  give 
so  full  an  account  of  ancient  China,  and  the  beginnings  of  many 
customs  and  modes  of  speech  that  are  common  now.  At  present 
there  is  no  dictionary  with  which  one  could  read  even  the  Four 
Books  satisfactorily,  and  much  less  the  Shoo-King,  and  She-King. 
In  saying  this  I  make  no  exception,  even  for  Morrison,  much  less 

for  M ,  who,  though  doubtless  the  best  acquainted  with 

Chinese  of  any  of  the  foreign  sinologues,  is  not  a  very  satisfactory 
authority  for  philological  purposes. 

December  4.  I  do  not  know  when  this  letter  will  get  off,  but  I 
must  finish  if  to-night.  My  teacher  was  away  all  day,  so  I  had 
to  study  by  myself.  Spent  the  time  principally  at  my  dictionary, 
and  noted  sixty-five  new  words,  besides  additional  meanings  to  as 
many  more.  This  was  a  great  day's  work,  for  I  seldom  give 
more  than  two  hours  a  day,  and  in  that  time  can  note  only  from 
ten  to  twenty  new  words.  A  visit  across  the  river,  airing  and  put- 
ting up  my  phinese  books,  and  finishing  my  Chinese  sermon,  have 
occupied  the  rest  of  the  day.  .  . 

I  suppose  the  new  brethren  have  arrived  in  Canton  before  now. 
A  letter  from  Mr.  Morse  informed  me  of  his  having  heard  of  their 
sailing  in  the  Grafton  in  July.  .  . 

Your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  September  13th,  1846. 
To  THE  REV.  JOHN  LLOYD  : — 

DEAR  BROTHER  JOHN  : — You  will  judge  from  the  date  of  this 
letter  (Sabbath  evening,)  that  it  is  not  to  be  about  everything 
under  the  sun.  I  do  not  know  how  it  strikes  every  person,  but 
occasionally  I  like  to  spend  a  part  of  the  Sabbath  evening  in  Chris- 
tian conversation  with  an  absent  friend,  and  I  do  not  know  that 
it  is  more  improper  to  converse  with  pen  and  ink,  than  by  word 
of  mouth.  .  .  .  Your  note  of  July  1,  inclosing  a  letter  from  J.  M.  L., 
came  two  days  ago,  and  your  note  of  Aug.  27,  reached  me  this 
morning.  ...  In  several  notes  you  have  spoken  of  a  wish  to  be 


LETTERS.  377 

near  me.  I  heartily  wish  it  could  be  so,  but  I  fear  you  would 
find  only  a  very  weak  and  bruised  reed  to  lean  on,  if  you  ex- 
pected any  good  from  me.  You  would  not  expect  much  if  you 
knew  me  better.  God  is  showing  me  of  late  in  a  very  painful  way 
that  in  myself  I  am  nothing, — can  do  nothing,  and  am  utterly 
sinful  and  vile  ;  and  the  way  he  shows  it  is  by  leaving  me  to  my- 
self, to  walk  on  in  my  Christian  course,  and  to  do  my  duties  with- 
out any  sensible  support  of  his  grace;  and  the  consequence  is, 
that  I  am  very  low.  Oh,  how  many  bitter  things  I  write  against 
myself;  but  the  worst  is,  my  utter  deadness — no  life  or  delight  in 
prayer,  the  Scriptures,  or  meditation.  What  dreadful  things 
these  hearts  of  ours  are  !  It  amazes  me  to  think  that  God  can  be 
gracious  to  people  naturally  so  vile,  and  who  sin  so  grievously 
after  conversion.  I  preached  a  week  ago  on  the  prodigal  son's 
departing  from  his  father's  house.  I  felt  the  subject  a  good  deal 
myself,  and  several  of  the  little  audience  were  in  tears ;  but  alas,  I 
do  not  ,-<eem  to  have  "come  back"  yet.  To-day  was  our  commu- 
nion, but  I  found  little  or  no  benefit.  There  has  been  much 
strangeness  between  God  and  my  soul  for  many  months  past,  and 
often  a  great  reluctance  to  close  and  faithful  dealing  with  myself. 
So  dead  that  I  have  lost  the  savor  of  spiritual  things,  and  the  per- 
ception of  the  beauties  of  the  Bible,  and  seldom  draw  nigh  unto 
God.  I  seem  to  satisfy  myself  with  very  faint  services.  Oh  to  be 
revived  !  and  yet  this  lazy  heart  would  be  revived  without  effort 
on  my  own  part.  Awake,  thou  that  sleepest !  Alas  !  I  am  so 
soon  wearied  in  my  efforts.  Like  the  little  flying-fish,  but  a  mo- 
ment up,  and  then  back  in  the  troubled  waters  of  this  heaving,  rest- 
less world.  Oh  Lord  God,  give  me  wings,  and  enable  me  to  breathe 
the  pure  and  spiritual  atmosphere  of  heaven.  I  find  myself  by 
nature  diseased  by  sin,  which,  like  the  leprosy,  affects  my  whole 
frame.  Yea,  "  the  plague  is  in  his  head."  Yea,  the  "  whole 
head  is  sick,  and  the  whole  heart  faint ;"  and  thus  I  neither  prop- 
erly appreciate,  nor  comprehend  spiritual  things,  nor  feel  them 
aright;  therefore  I  am  unclean,  separated  from  the  society  of  the 
holy,  dwelling  without  the  precincts  where  the  people  of  God's 
love  are.  How  deep  should  be  my  sorrow,  and  self-loathing,  and 
abasement!  and  how  should  I  come  to  him  whose  word  can 
cleanse. — Lev.  xiii.  44-46. 

But  1  trust  I  am  one  of  God's  people,  and  yet  even  this  is  but 
renewed  reason  for  humiliation.  "  My  people  have  committed 
two  evils."  "  Forsaken  God,  the  fountain  of  living  waters  ;"  what 
greater  despite,  contempt,  unbelief,  and  sin,  than  this  ?  And 
"  hewn  out  broken  cisterns  which  can  hold  no  water."  Ho\v  true 
is  this  !  It  is  so  with  me.  Made  for  God  ;  heart  disquieted  till 
it  rests  in  him  ;  and  yet  unwilling  to  come  to  him  ;  and  on  the 
contrary,  seeking  rest  in  creatures  !  Well  may  heaven  and  earth 
be  astonished  at  this  ! — Jer.  ii.  12,  13. 

I  trust  I  have  not  wholly  forsaken  God's  service,  but  there  is 
small  comfort  in  this.  It  has  been  with  but  half  a  heart  that  I 


378  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

have  served  him.  I  have  sought  happiness  in  my  study,  books, 
correspondence,  business,  friends ;  and  with  a  half  heart  to  them 
and  a  half  heart  to  God,  how  miserably  have  I  gone  on !  Oh 
Lord,  unite  my  heart  to  fear  thy  name  !  Psalmlxxxvi.il.  It  is 
impossible  to  serve  God  if  the  whole  heart  be  not  his.  If  with 
a  half  heart,  then  as  good  none  at  all.  Thus  with  my  half  heart 
I  have  fallen  asleep,  and  am  become  dead.  Oh  let  me  now 
awake,  and  arise  from  the  dead,  and  may  he  who  is  the  light  of 
the  world  give  me  light.  Eph.  v.  14.  None  but  he  can  do  it 
Blessed  Jesus,  raise  me  to  thyself,  and  shine  into  my  heart  with 
the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God,  of  which  I  now 
know  so  little.  2  Cor.  iv.  6.  Let  me  rise  with  thee,  and  being  risen, 
let  me  seek  those  things  which  are  above  where  thou  sittest,  Col. 
iii.  1.  I  have  too  often  forgotten  that  he  who  is  risen  with  Christ, 
must  still  seek  and  labor.  Oh  let  me  forget  it  no  more,  and  thus 
laboring  and  believing,  praying  and  trusting,  I  beseech  thee  show 
me  thy  glory,  Exod.  xxxiii.  18 ;  xxxiv.  6,  7. 

You  will  ask,  why  do  I  live  thus  ?  Because,  I  am  "  sold  under 
sin,"  and  "  the  good  I  would  I  do  not."  I  know  I  ought  to  do  it, 
and  am  guilty  for  not  doing  it.  "  Oh,  wretched  man  that  1  am, 
who  shall  deliver  me  from  this  body  of  death?"  Jesus  Christ  our 
head?  Yes,  but  there  is  the  worst  of  it.  Like  the  prodigal  de- 
parting from  his  father,  I  have  gone  away  from  Christ,  and  there- 
fore have  no  life.  Pray  for  me.  I  will  continue  this  strain  no 
longer. 

We  have  much  reason  for  gratitude  in  not  being  left  entirely 
destitute  of  a  blessing  here.  As  many  as  three  persons  have  hope- 
fully experienced  a  change  of  heart  here  during  the  past  year. 
One  of  these  is  Aziii,  Miss  Aldersey's  Chinese  servant,  a  native  of 
this  place,  who  was  baptized  to-day.  He  has  been  inquiring  for 
nearly  a  year,  and  after  a  very  satisfactory  examination,  was  re- 
ceived by  the  Session  into  the  Church.  God  be  praised  for  this  ! 
Oh  for  more  !  There  are  others  who  sometimes  give  us  hopes, 
but  we  are  often  grievously  disappointed.  My  servant  seems  to 
be  somewhat  serious,  but  I  dare  not  hope  that  any  real  impression 
has  been  made  on  his  mind.  I  think  my  teacher  thinks  more 
than  he  is  willing  to  admit,  but  I  have  as  yet  no  hopes  of  him. 
What  a  dreadful  thing  a  backwardness  to  speak  on  religious  topics 
is  !  There  is  no  one  thing  that  has  troubled  me  in  all  my  inter- 
course so  much  as  this.  No  duty  I  find  so  hard  to  perform,  or 
which  I  oftener  fail  in  attending  to.  Nothing  has  caused  me  to 
doubt  my  piety  so  much  as  this  one  thing,  and  now  I  almost  de- 
spair of  ever  overcoming  it.  "Out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart 
the  mouth  speaketh,"  but  if  I  am  judged  by  this  rule,  I  shall  stand 
very  low.  I  am  glad  others  are  not  so  deficient  in  it  as  I  am. 

Monday,  14th.  Your  summer  has  been  very  cool,  and  ours  ex- 
cessively hot.  Such  hot  weather,  and  so  long,  I  have  never 
known.  After  having  the  thermometer  up  to  983  and  100°  every 
day  for  six  weeks,  it  was  quite  a  luxury  to  find  it  rising  no  higher 


LETTERS.  379 

than  88°  and  90°.  It  is  now,  however,  and  has  been  for  three 
weeks,  very  pleasant,  and  has  been  down  as  low  as  74°  at  night, 
now  generally  below  80°  at  night,  and  even  at  the  warmest  there 
was  always  a  fall  of  10°  to  15°  at  night.  I  do  not  think  we  could 
have  lived  through  it  if  it  had  not  been  for  this. 

Walsh,  at  Mynpurie,  speaks  of  122°  in  the  sun,  as  very  hot. 
We  have  had  it  much  higher  than  that  in  the  sun  here ;  but  in 
India  the  hot  weather  lasts  much  longer  than  it  does  here. 

Why  do  we  never  see  your  lucubrations  in  the  Chronicle,  or 
Foreign  Missionary?  A  man  who  holds  as  ready  a  pen  as  you 
do,  is  bound  to  let  it  speak  pro  bono publico.  Tell  Brother  Brown 
I  am  very  glad  he  has  commenced  at  the  right  end,  and  I  hope  he 
will  keep  on. 

I  am  engaged  of  late  in  preparing  a  report  on  the  word  to  be 
used  in  speaking  the  name  of  God.  We  are  pretty  unanimous 
here  in  disapproving  of  the  word  Shang-te,  as  it  is  perpetually  con- 
founded with  the  Chinese  idol  of  the  same  name.  I  believe  we 
are  all  in  favor  of  Shin,  and  I  have  been  quite  surprised  at  the 
amount  of  authority,  I  mean  from  the  Chinese  classics,  in  favor 
of  its  use.  What  words  do  you  use  ?  and  how  do  they  take  with 
the  people  ?  I  would  like  much  to  hear  what  your  custom  is. 

When  you  write  for  the  Chronicle,  I  mean  you  and  Brown 
both,  would  it  not  be  well  to  spell  Chinese  words  after  the 
Mandarin  fashion,  and  Morrison's  spelling?  Part  of  Brown's 
letter  in  the  April  Chronicle  is  Greek  to  me.  Who  is  Giam  lo 
ongl  I  suppose  the  first  word  is  intended  for  Yew  in  Mandarin, 
and  the  last  for  Wang.  But  I  cannot  make  out  the  lo,  and  as  for 
the  hok-sai,  I  have  no  idea  what  it  is,  unless  it  be  Fuk-sze.  Our 
dialect  comes  much  nearer  the  Mandarin  than  yours,  but  most  of 
us  prefer,  in  writing  for  the  Chronicle,  &c.,  to  use  the  pure  Manda- 
rin, which  all  who  study  the  characters  are  supposed  to  know  a 
little  about,  even  though  they  cannot  speak  it.  I  must  close  this 
scrawl.  You  do  not  expect  good  penmanship  from  me,  but  I  wish 
for  the  sake  of  your  eyes  that  it  was  better.  Give  much  love  to 
Brown,  for  I  take  it  you  and  he  are  pretty  much  one,  and  I  do  not 
write  to  him,  for  nearly  all  I  would  say  to  him  I  say  to  you. 

Believe  me,  ever  yours,  in  the  gospel  and  ministry  of  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


GENERAL     REMARKS    IN    CONCLUSION    OF    THE     THIRD    ANNUAL 
REPORT  OF  THE  NINGPO  MISSION  J    OCTOBER  1,  1846. 

We  have  thus  presented  a  brief  sketch  of  our  operations  during 
the  year.  It  may  strike  you  perhaps  as  exhibiting  but  a  meagre 
return  for  the  labors  of  a  year.  It  affords  us,  however,  much 
ground  to  thank  God  and  take  courage.  True,  indeed,  most  of 
the  work  done  has  been  of  a  preparatory  nature,  but  we  should 
remember  that  the  husbandman  has  long  patience  in  waiting  for 


380  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

the  reward  of  his  toils.  He  does  not  regard  the  time  as  thrown 
away  which  is  spent  in  breaking  up  the  fallow  ground,  enriching 
the  soil,  and  putting  in  the  seed,  because  he  cannot  immediately 
reap.  In  the  history  of  modern  missionary  enterprises,  the  season 
of  patience  by  which  God  has  tried  the  faith  of  his  people,  has 
generally  been  of  many  years'  continuance.  We  have  been  more 
highly  favored.  We  have  already  been  permitted  to  introduce 
into  the  fold  of  Christ's  flock  by  baptism,  one,  at  least,  of  the  for- 
mer victims  of  superstition.  Much  has  been  gained  too,  in  expe- 
rience, in  a  knowledge  of  the  habits,  disposition  and  modes  of 
thought  of  the  people,  which  may  help  to  guide  us  hereafter  to 
the  means  of  gaining  access  to  their  hearts.  We  have  laid  a  foun- 
dation for  such  a  knowledge  of  the  language,  as  will  enable  us  to 
declare  intelligibly  the  whole  counsel  of  God.  We  have  begun  to 
be  favorably  known  among  the  people.  Large  numbers  have  had 
opportunities  of  learning  something  of  our  character  and  habits, 
arid  have  particularly  noticed  our  observance  of  the  Sabbath. 
Many  have  become  acquainted  with  our  object  in  residing  among 
them.  Not  a  few  have  obtained  a  very  considerable  knowledge 
of  the  doctrines  we  teach  ;  while  hundreds  have  learned  enough 
of  the  way  of  salvation,  to  put  their  trust  in  the  Saviour  and  se- 
cure eternal  life,  were  it  not  for  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief.  The 
year  has  not  therefore  been  entirely  barren  of  results. 

The  nature  of  the  work  to  be  done  cannot,  however,  be  learned 
from  a  simple  statement  of  labors  performed.  The  missionary 
work  in  all  lands  must  be  essentially  the  same,  but  it  assumes  dif- 
ferent phases,  vaiying  with  the  character  and  habits  of  different 
nations.  It  is  everywhere  a  conflict  of  truth  against  error — of  the 
word  of  God  against  the  impure  teachings  of  the  corrupt  heart. 
But  error  does  not  everywhere  manifest  itself  in  the  same  form  ;  it 
may  not  therefore  be  uninteresting  or  unprofitable,  in  connection 
with  the  above  statement  of  what  we  have  endeavored  to  do,  to 
throw  together  a  few  notices,  which  may  serve  to  exhibit  more 
clearly  some  of  the  most  prominent  features  of  the  work  in  this 
field,  so  far  as  its  nature  depends  upon  the  character  of  the  people 
among  whom  we  labor.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  we  are 
speaking  chiefly  of  Ningpo,  and  that  many  statements  may  be 
true  in  one  part  of  China,  which  are  not  true  in  other  parts.  We 
confine  ourselves  to  such  observations  as  have  a  direct  bearing  on 
missionary  effort. 

To  whatever  land  the  missionary  of  Christ  directs  his  steps, 
bearing  the  religion  of  the  cross,  he  is  almost  everywhere  met  by 
a  counterfeit  religion.  It  is  so  here.  Yet  all  religion,  of  what- 
ever kind,  sits  lightly  upon  the  shoulders  of  the  people.  There  is 
no  venerable  system  of  superstition  deeply  rooted  in  the  affections 
of  the  people,  and  sustained,  as  in  India,  by  a  crafty  and  influen- 
tial priesthood,  wielding  a  more  than  princely  power :  though  the 
number  of  the  gods  is  countless,  they  are  little  reverenced  even 
by  the  most  ignorant,  and  still  less  by  the  better  informed.  Even 


LETTERS.  381 

those  who  are  most  devout  and  diligent  in  their  worship  of  the 
gods,  are  influenced  solely  by  the  hope  that  they  will  obtain  some 
personal  benefit  by  it,  and  are  not  wedded  to  any  particular  sys- 
tem. They  are  quite  willing  to  abandon  the  worship  of  one,  if 
they  can  be  induced  to  believe  that  greater  advantages  will  accrue 
to  themselves  by  the  worship  of  another.  The  religious  feeling 
of  the  mass  seems  to  be  simply  a  vague  notion  that  there  are  su- 
perior powers,  probably  Heaven  arid  Earth,  which  ought  to  be 
worshipped,  and  that  it  is  expedient  on  particular  occasions,  to 
seek  their  favor  by  offerings  and  prayers.  Men  are  seldom  found 
worshipping  at  the  temples.  The  priesthood  is  to  a  great  extent 
supported  by  the  devotion  of  the  women,  who,  though  forbidden 
to  go  to  the  temples,  by  laws  which  the  indifference  and  venality 
of  the  mandarins  render  a  dead  letter,  are  often  faithful  in  reading 
their  prayers  before  the  idols,  and  in  observing  the  numerous  fasts 
imposed  by  the  priests. 

The  homage  paid  to  Confucius  is  undoubtedly  idolatrous,  yet  it 
can  hardly  be  considered  as  holding  a  place  among  the  rites  of 
religion.  He  is  worshipped  not  as  a  god,  but  as  a  man  ;  and  he 
is  not  regarded  as  possessing  divine  power,  or  exercising  any  im- 
mediate control  in  the  affairs  of  men.  His  followers  may  there- 
fore be  regarded  as  strictly  atheists.  Yet  the  strictest  of  this  class 
—the  mandarins — do  not  scruple  to  repair  regularly  twice  a  month, 
to  present  their  offerings  at  the  temples ;  and  in  times  of  public 
distress,  they  worship  every  day.  Twice  during  the  present  year 
they  have  strictly  prohibited 'the  slaughter  of  animals ;  once  to 
procure  a  cessation  of  excessive  rains,  and  once  to  avert  the  evila 
of  long-continued  drought.  But  they  have  gone  further  than  this, 
in  sacrificing  their  own  avowed  religious  views  to  those  of  the  peo- 
ple. We  have  witnessed  the  sad  spectacle  recently,  of  all  the 
highest  officers  of  the  city  repairing  daily  to  an  idol  temple,  to 
prostrate  themselves  before  a  senseless  fish,  to  procure  the  blessing 
of  rain.  This  is  all  done  no  doubt  to  keep  the  people  quiet,  and 
prop  up  their  own  weakness,  but  it  shows  how  little  importance  is 
attached  to  any  particular  set  of  religious  tenets.  In  our  work 
among  this  people,  therefore,  the  task  of  pulling  down  old  systems 
will  probably  not  prove  so  great  as  in  other  parts  of  Asia.  The 
foundations  on  which  idolatry  rests  are  not  laid  so  deep  nor  so  firm, 
and  we  may  therefore  devote  our  energies  more  completely  to  the 
work  of  building  up  the  glorious  edifice  which  is  built  on  the  foun- 
dation of  the  apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ  himself  being 
the  chief  corner-stone. 

Superstition,  the  offspring  of  ignorance,  has  a  firmer  hold  on 
the  minds  of  the  people  than  idolatry  has  upon  their  hearts. 
Their  minds  are  filled  with  vain  imaginations,  of  things  not  visi- 
ble ;  and  the  learned  and  the  ignorant,  the  idolater  and  the  atheist, 
alike  yield  implicit  credence  to  the  system  of  auguries  and  portents, 
lucky  and  unlucky  days,  and  the  whole  round  of  future  revealing 
signs.  The  day  and  hour,  the  year  and  month  of  birth,  clearly 


382  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

foreshadow  the  future  destiny,  and  no  one  enters  upon  any  im- 
portant undertaking  in  the  face  of  an  unlucky  omen.  Not  a  few 
of  the  notions  which  prevail  among  the  vulgar  in  more  enlight- 
ened nations,  find  their  counterpart  here  ;  but  while  they  are  there 
confined  to  the  few,  they  are  here  the  guide-book  of  the  many. 
The  belief  arid  fear  of  supernatural  powers,  here  as  elsewhere,  are 
the  cause  of  much  suffering.  The  effects  of  this  fear  are  more 
terrible  here  from  its  universality.  It  is  but  recently  that  the 
whole  population  of  this  region  was  thrown  into  consternation  by 
the  belief  that  mysterious,  powerful,  invisible  spirits,  were  sent 
forth  by  myriads,  by  men  dealing  in  magical  arts.  Thousands 
were  held  in  terror  for  weeks,  and  spent  many  nights  in  watching, 
not  daring  to  close  their  eyes  in  sleep.  It  is  thus  that  Satan  rules 
in  his  kingdom.  He  brings  the  mind,  as  well  as  the  heart,  under 
his  sway.  It  is  not  by  any  address  to  the  reason  that  such  ab- 
surdities will  be  robbed  of  their  influence.  They  address  them- 
selves to  the  feelings,  and  will  be  overcome  with  greater  difficulty 
than  idolatry  itself. 

The  combination  of  idolatry  and  superstition  have  produced 
their  usual  terrible  effects  in  degrading  the  mind.  To  them  we 
must  attribute,  in  a  great  measure,  the  universal  stagnation  of 
mental  energy,  and  the  general,  almost  childish  imbecility,  which 
characterize  the  Chinese  mind.  The  effect  of  this  is  to  disqualify 
for  the  enlightened  and  dispassionate  search  after  truth  ;  to  curb, 
or  wholly  quench,  the  spirit  of  curiosity  ;  and  to  induce  an  entire 
contentment  with  utler  ignorance  of  all  that  it  is  most  desirable 
to  know.  Hence  the  difficulty  of  awakening  a  spirit  of  inquiry  or 
anxiety  in  reference  to  religious  truth.  The  cold  and  heartless 
assent  to  all  that  may  be  said,  the  careless  nod  of  the  head,  or 
equally  careless  word  of  approbation,  too  often  the  index  of  utter 
indifference  alike  to  truth  and  error,  are  even  more  discouraging, 
more  trying  to  the  patience,  than  open  and  decided  opposition. 
All  seem  content  with  old  thoughts,  old  customs,  old  modes  of 
doing  things  :  and  not  only  content,  but  in  love  with  them.  What- 
ever is  new  is  almost  an  object  of  suspicion  and  jealousy.  Not 
only  do  the  farmer  and  mechanic  ply  their  occupations  with  the 
same  rude  instruments  which  their  fathers  were  wont  to  employ, 
but  even  the  man  of  letters  is  content  to  deal  with  the  thoughts 
of  those  who  have  gone  be/ore  him,  and  ring  the  changes  on  the 
words  which  express  them,  without  caring  to  alter,  amend,  or  add 
to  them.  The  end,  in  Chinese  composition,  is  sound  rather  than 
sense.  At  the  examinations  for  literary  degrees,  the  merit  of  the 
essays  produced  is  determined  by  the  smoothness  of  the  sentences, 
and  the  acquaintance  with  the  classics  displayed.  There  is  no 
effort  to  elucidate  a  subject,  to  inquire  after  truth,  or  to  present 
new  and  striking  thoughts.  The  classics  are  used  for  the  purpose 
of  these  essays,  very  much  as  the  carpenter  uses  his  lumber.  The 
material  is  all  there.  It  is  only  required  to  make  a  display  of  in- 
genuity in  turning  it  into  new.  forms.  In  consequence  of  this 


REPORT    OP   THE    NINGPO    MISSION.  383 

feature  of  the  Chinese  mind  as  we  now  find  it,  our  work  will  par- 
take very  little  of  an  argumentative  character.  We  are  not  likely 
to  be  often  drawn  into  disputes,  either  in  public  or  in  private.  We 
will  be  left  to  devote  ourselves  wholly  to  the  more  pleasing  work, 
though  not  less  difficult,  of  giving  instruction  in  the  great  doctrines 
of  revelation. 

The  idolatry  of  China  consists  not  solely,  nor  chiefly,  in  the 
worship  of  idols.  The  worship  of  ancestors,  though  a  less  revolt- 
ing, is  really  a  more  dangerous  form  of  idolatry.  It  is  this  that 
rears  itself  like  an  impassable  barrier  in  the  way  of  the  progress 
of  the  Gospel.  Permeating  as  it  does  every  province,  and  every 
hamlet  of  the  empire,  embracing  all  classes  and  conditions  of  men, 
overstepping  the  dividing  lines  of  all  religions,  it  closes  every  heart 
against  the  entrance  of  the  Gospel.  Having  its  foundation  deep 
laid  in  the  tenderest  and  most  amiable  feelings  of  our  nature, — 
feelings  which  commend  themselves  as  well  to  the  conscience  as 
the  heart, — it  is  a  wonderful  exhibition  of  the  tendency  of  the  de- 
praved heart  to  convert  virtue  itself  into  crime,  and  of  the  art  and 
craft  with  which  the  great  Adversary  turns  this  tendency  to  the 
accomplishment  of  his  own  diabolical  purposes.  Next  to  Popery, 
it  is  one  of  Satan's  greatest  master-pieces.  The  strength  of  the 
Papal  delusion  consists  in  the  amount  of  revealed  truth  interwoven 
with  its  falsehoods, — of  this,  in  the  amount  of  truth  made  known 
by  natural  religion,  which  has  been  incorporated  with  it.  As  min- 
isters of  Christ  we  must  denounce,  as  wicked  and  abominable,  the 
practice  itself,  while  we  must  approve  and  commend  as  highly 
pleasing  to  God,  the  principle — the  feeling  of  the  heart,  on  which 
it  is  founded.  Unlike  heathen  worship,  it  has  a  hold  upon  the 
affections  of  the  people,  and  the  neglect  of  the  idolatrous  ancestral 
rites,  is  almost  universally  looked  upon  with  abhorrence,  as  the 
index  of  a  heart  destitute  of  every  right  feeling.  Add  to  this,  that 
the  principle  on  which  it  depends  is  the  very  foundation  on  which 
is  built  the  fabric  of  Chinese  law,  the  corner-stone  on  which  rests 
the  security  of  the  imperial  throne,  and  that  it  is  sustained  by  all 
the  power  of  an  absolute  despotism,  backed  by  the  overwhelming 
force  of  universal  public  sentiment,  and  it  may  be  conceived  how 
perfectly  futile  must  be  all  the  efforts  of  a  few  feeble  missionaries 
in  the  extreme  borders  of  the  empire,  to  overthrow  it.  We  re- 
member, however,  that  God  is  glorified  in  our  weakness.  When 
the  work  is  done,  it  will  be  manifest  to  all  that  the  Son  hath 
wrought  it. 

Gross  impurity  of  morals  is  ever  the  concomitant  of  heathenism. 
Chinese  philosophers  teach  a  comparatively  pure  morality  ;  and 
the  code  given  by  Confucius  is  perhaps  as  pure  as  ever  proceeded, 
among  heathen  philosophers,  from  any  other  source.  But  this  is 
not  the  morality  of  the  people.  Dark,  indeed,  would  be  the  pic- 
ture of  public  morals  in  China,  if  correctly  drawn. 

Deceit,  fraud,  and  licentiousness  prevail  to  an  appalling  extent. 
To  lie  is  not  looked  upon  as  a  crime,  and  to  accuse  the  inosit  re- 


384  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER   M.    LOWRIE. 

spectable  men  of  falsehood  is  not  even  regarded  as  an  insult.  To 
be  detected  in  an  attempt  to  defraud  is  attended  with  greater 
odium,  and  there  is  a  tolerable  measure  of  honesty  in  the  transac- 
tion of  business,  though  it  is  the  honesty  of  policy,  not  of  principle. 
Though  \ve  see  but  few  of  the  evidences  of  infanticide,  we  have 
every  reason  to  believe  that  it  is  lamentably  common.  The  poor 
destroy  by  neglect,  if  not  by  actual  violence,  their  female  children, 
who  would  only  be  a  tax  upon  their  resources,  and  the  mother 
always  destroys  the  fruit  of  her  dishonor. 

We  must  not  however  look  only  at  the  dark  side  of  the  picture. 
The  immorality  of  China  is  the  immorality  of  its  human  nature, 
not  of  its  idolatry.  It  forms  no  part  of  her  religion.  Licentious- 
ness and  fraud  are  neither  inculcated  in  their  holy  books,  nor  en- 
couraged by  legendary  accounts  of  the  example  of  their  gods. 
Cold-blooded  murders,  desperate  encounters,  and  fatal  affrays,  in 
this  part  of  China,  are  seldom  heard  of;  and  violent  mobs  do  not 
often  disturb  the  peace  of  society.  Those  which  we  have  known, 
have  been  but  the  popular  resistance  to  the  rapacity  and  oppres- 
sion of  unprincipled  rulers.  If  deceit  and  fraud  are  prevalent, 
you  are  not  more  liable  to  be  over-reached  and  deceived  by  your 
neighbor  than  in  most  other  countries.  In  our  denunciations  of 
vice  we  shall  therefore  have  the  public  voice  in  our  favor,  and 
practices  which  conscience  reproves  as  immoral,  will  not  be  de- 
fended by  the  voice  of  religion  as  virtuous. 

The  state  of  society  affords  us  many  grounds  of  encouragement. 
No  dividing  walls  of  caste  separate  the  people  into  different  grades, 
cut  off  from  friendly  intercourse  with  each  other.  The  minds  of 
those  who  may  be  favorably  impressed  with  the  truth,  will  not  be 
filled  with  dread  at  the  thought  of  scaling  those  walls,  and  bra- 
ving the  consequences  of  a  step  which  renders  them  outcasts  from 
society.  There  is  even  a  higher  degree  of  community  of  feeling, 
and  fewer  divisions  of  society,  than  among  the  civilized  nations  of 
the  West.  There  is  no  titled  aristocracy.  Learning  and  wealth 
do  not  draw  so  distinctly  as  in  the  West  dividing  lines  of  society, 
and  there  are  few,  if  any,  great  landed  proprietors,  who  stand 
aloof  from  the  cultivators  of  the  soil.  The  mandarins  have  little 
friendly  intercourse  with  the  people.  They  are  a  class  by  them- 
selves, shut  out  from  the  people,  partly  by  the  dignity  of  office, 
partly  by  being  sent  to  rule  in  provinces  where  the  people  speak  a 
dialect  which  they  do  not  understand.  This  is  one  extreme  of  so- 
ciety. The  other  extreme  is  composed  of  the  vilest  of  the  people, 
the  disgraced,  the  beggars,  banished  criminals,  and  those  on  whom 
has  been  fixed  the  ban  of  the  government.  All  between  these 
two  extremes  may  be  regarded  as  a  conglomerate  mass,  made  up 
of  poor  and  rich,  learned  and  unlearned.  These  may  all  associ- 
ate on  terms  very  nearly  approaching  equality.  The  master  aud 
servant,  the  man  of  letters,  the  wealthy  merchant  and  the  com- 
mon laborer,  may  meet  together  at  the  same  table ;  and  no  defer- 
ence is  exacted  from  one  which  is  not  returned  by  the  other. 


REPORT    OF   THE    NINGPO   MISSION.  385 

As  in  every  land  where  the  influence  of  the  Gospel  is  not  felt, 
the  female  sex  are  not  permitted  to  occupy  the  place  which  be- 
longs to  them.  They  are  excluded  from  all  the  advantages  of 
education,  and  for  the  most  part  are  kept  in  a  state  little  better 
than  servitude.  They  are  compelled  to  submit  to  the  usual  badge 
of  servitude,  exclusion  from  the  table  of  the  other  sex,  though 
this  rule  is  often  violated.  Their  situation,  however,  is  incom- 
parably better  than  in  most  countries  under  the  influence  of 
heathenism.  The  service  imposed  upon  them  is  ordinarily  in  the 
sphere  of  their  appropriate  duties,  and  they  are  commonly  treated 
with  civility  and  kindness,  though  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that 
the  authority  assumed  over  them  should  not  be  often  abused. — In 
view  of  these  facts  we  may  hope  that  when  the  truth  shall  have 
begun  to  make  an  impression  upon  the  public  mind,  it  will  run 
and  have  free  course  and  be  glorified.  An  influence  once  com- 
menced will  rapidly  extend  itself.  The  stream  of  salvation  will 
flow,  not  in  a  narrow  channel  hemmed  in  by  rocks  on  all  sides, 
and  constantly  turned  from  its  course  by  adamantine  walls,  but 
will  spread  its  fertilizing  waters  over  the  wide  surface  of  a  level 
plain,  and  over  the  face  of  the  whole  land. 

We  think,  therefore,  that  in  the  midst  of  many  of  the  peculiar 
difficulties  which  belong  to  the  nature  of  the  missionary  work  in 
all  lands,  we  have  some  singular  advantages  which  should  ani- 
mate us  in  our  efforts  and  encourage  the  Church  in  her  prayers. 
Seldom  have  missionary  operations  been  commenced  among  any 
people  under  more  favorable  auspices,  and  there  are  few  mission- 
ary fields,  if  any,  which  present  a  less  forbidding  array  of  obsta- 
cles, or  afford  greater  encouragements.  We  are  in  the  midst  of  a 
peaceful  and  quiet  people,  who  always  receive  us  politely  and 
treat  us  with  civility.  Though  dwelling  among  a  heathen  peo- 
ple, protected  simply  by  the  obligation  of  a  treaty — an  obligation 
not  felt  by  the  multitude — we  feel  as  safe  from  lawless  violence  as 
we  would  even  in  the  peaceful  cities  of  our  own  more  favored 
land.  We  may  with  as  much  freedom  and  boldness  publish  the 
pure  Gospel  in  all  its  simplicity,  as  in  any  city  in  America,  and 
with  less  fear  of  external  interference  than  in  many  cities  of 
Christian  Europe.  The  fields  are  white  to  the  harvest.  The 
view  of  the  field  itself,  and  the  developments  of  Providence,  may 
justify  us  in  anticipating  at  no  distant  day  glorious  triumphs  of 
the  Gospel.  The  victory,  if  gained,  however,  will  not  be  gained 
without  a  struggle.  Already  the  ground  is  disputed  with  us  by 
that  wonderful  power  which  has  so  often  been  drunk  with  the 
blood  of  the  saints,  and  which  is  now  making  such  vigorous  efforts 
to  extend  itself  in  every  part  of  the  world.  France  has  recently, 
in  more  than  one  instance  appeared  as  the  ally  of  Rome,  and  the 
French  ambassador,  when  in  China,  with  a  zeal  which  is  worthy 
of  all  commendation,  exerted  himself  in  her  favor.  At  Ningpo 
he  procured  the  restoration  of  a  house  and  piece  of  ground  which 
belonged  to  the  Papists  during  their  palmy  days  in  China,  and 

25 


386  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

which,  unclaimed  by  them,  has  for  many  years  been  in  the  hands 
of  the  mandarins.  The  house  is  now  occupied  by  a  French 
priest,  and  several  native  priests  from  their  mission  in  the  province 
of  Sye-chuen.  Their  influence  is  already  beginning  to  be  felt, 
and  their  name  having  so  long  been  associated  with  the  building 
they  occupy,  is  familiar  to  the  people.  We  may  therefore  expect 
to  bear  a  part  in  the  conflict  with  the  Man  of  Sin  which^  has 
already  commenced  in  every  quarter  of  the  world. 

In  the  review  of  the  year,  we  must  acknowledge  with  gratitude 
the  kindness  of  God  in  moving  the  heart  of  him  whom  he  has 
placed  upon  the  throne,  to  repeal  those  sanguinary  laws  which, 
during  several  reigns,  have  made  the  profession  of  the  religion  of 
the  cross  a  capital  offence.  This  is  another  of  those  providential 
events  by  which  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  is  preparing  the 
way  for  the  establishment  of  his  kingdom  in  this  empire.  Who 
can  doubt  that  he  will  carry  on  that  which  he  has  so  wondrously 
commenced  ?  We  are  far  from  anticipating  that  the  tide  of  foreign 
influence  will  be  stayed,  or  that  the  gates  of  China  will  ever 
again  be  closed  against  the  Gospel.  Yet  we  must  not  too  confi- 
dently expect  that  the  onward  progress  of  the  Gospel  will  not 
again  be  retarded.  The  political  revolution  which  commenced  in 
the  triumphant  career  of  the  British  arms  has  not  yet  wrought 
out  its  results,  and  it  belongs  not  to  us  to  say  what  will  be  its 
future  developments.  Symptoms  of  instability  already  begin  to 
be  manifested.  The  weakness  of  the  government  can  no  longer 
be  concealed,  and  the  lowest  of  the  people  have  not  failed  to  ob- 
serve it.  When  it  is  remembered  that  the  reins  of  government 
are  in  the  hands  of  foreign  usurpers,  the  overthrow  of  the  present 
political  fabric  may  be  regarded  as  an  event  brought  within  the 
range  of  probabilities.  In  any  event,  we  know  that  He  to  whom 
all  power  is  given  in  heaven  and  upon  earth,  will  not  be  indiffer- 
ent to  the  welfare  of  His  Church.  In  His  own  good  time  the 
promise  will  be  made  good,  and  they  of  the  land  of  Sinim  will 
cast  their  idols  to  the  bats  and  to  the  moles,  and  give  glory  to  the 
God  of  Heaven,  who  only  doeth  wonders. 

The  following  paper,  with  a  list  of  two  hundred  and  seven  cuts, 
was  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Lowrie,  approved  by  the  Mission,  and  laid  be- 
fore the  Executive  Committee,  by  whom  it  was  favorably  acted  on  : 

1st.  It  is  well  known,  that  knowledge  received  by  the  eye,  is 
more  easily  comprehended  and  longer  retained  than  that  which 
enters  only  by  the  ear.  Hence  pictures,  as  a  means  of  instruction, 
have  been  so  long  acknowledged  to  be  of  much  utility.  It  is  es- 
pecially so  with  the  young,  and  when  describing  things  never  seen 
or  heard  of  before.  The  members  of  this  mission  are  already  fully 
aware  how  utterly  ignorant  the  Chinese  are  of  everything  foreign, 
and  how  exceedingly  difficult  it  is  for  us  to  explain  multitudes  of 
things,  on  account  of  this  ignorance.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that 
a  series  of  small  books  on  various  subjects  of  Geography,  Natural 


ENGRAVINGS    FOR   MISSIONARY    PUBLICATIONS.  387 

History,  History  of  different  nations,  and  notices  of  the  Customs, 
Dress  and  Manners  of  different  nations,  if  illustrated  by  cuts, 
would  be  of  great  utilty  here.  The  time  we  hope  is  not  far  dis- 
tant, when  the  members  of  this  mission  will  be  able  to  prepare 
such  books,  and  when  this  is  attempted,  the  want  of  cuts  will  be 
found  to  be  a  serious  obstacle.  The  list  herewith  furnished, 
though  far  from  complete,  will  yet  be  of  material  assistance. 

2d.  Although  it  may  seem  as  if  works  such  as  those  mentioned 
above  do  not  properly  fall  within  the  sphere  of  a  missionary, — yet 
we  remark,  that  even  aside  from  the  knowledge  they  communi- 
cate, they  will  serve  two  valuable  purposes,  which  are  essential  to 
our  work.  First.  They  will  in  some  measure  assist  to  arouse  the 
dormant  mind  of  this  people.  One  of  our  greatest  difficulties  here 
is  found  in  the  utter  stagnation  of  the  Chinese  mind,  with  regard 
to  everything  but  money.  Knowledge  of  almost  anything  under 
the  sun,  by  stimulating  the  faculties  will  rouse  the  mind,  put  it  in 
an  inquiring  state,  and  in  this  inquiring  and  awakened  state,  it 
will  more  readily  appreciate  the  truths  of  Christianity.  In  the 
present  state  of  the  Chinese  mind  it  is  conceived  that  instructive 
pictures,  with  appropriate  descriptions,  will  be  found  to  be  one  of 
the  best  means  of  arousing  it.  Secondly.  The  Scriptures  refer  to  a 
multitude  of  objects  in  Natural  History,  and  the  history  of  society 
and  arts,  which  are  unknown  iu  China,  and  can  scarcely  be  illus- 
trated without  pictures.  Hence  all  the  illustrations  in  our  Bible 
dictionaries  arid  commentaries  in  Christian  lands.  We  see  not 
why  these  are  not  more  necessary  here  than  there. 

3d.  In  illustrating  Bible  history,  few  things  would  be  of  more 
service  than  a  series  of  pictures,  with  descriptions,  such  as  are  pub- 
lished in  immense  numbers  at  home.  Every  one  will  recollect  the 
instance  of  Dr.  Doddridge,  whose  first  knowledge  of  Scriptural 
history  was  derived  from  some  Dutch  tiles  that  ornamented  his 
mother's  fire-place.  We  regret  that  in  the  book  of  cuts,  to  which 
we  have  had  access,  there  have  been  almost  no  pictures  on  Scrip- 
tural subjects,  but  as  there  are  doubtless  many  to  be  had  in  the 
United  States,  we  trust  the  Mission  will  be  furnished  by  the  Com- 
mittee with  a  full  supply. 

4th.  By  means  of  cuts,  we  shall  be  enabled  to  bring  books  written 
in  the  colloquial  language  of  the  people,  into  some  favor  and  re- 
pute. It  is  well  known  that  books  in  the  colloquial  language  are 
despised  by  the  scholars  in  China.  And  yet,  it  can  admit  of  but 
little  doubt,  that  if  the  press  is  ever  to  benefit  the  mass  of  the  na- 
tion, it  must  be  by  works  in  the  familiar  mother  tongue  of  the  peo- 
ple. Now  a  book  on  an  interesting  subject,  and  illustrated  by 
good  pictures,  will  command  attention  and  perusal,  even  though 
written  in  the  most  familiar  style.  And  we  deem  it  no  ungrounded 
expectation,  that  pictures  will  be  of  material  service  in  preparing 
the  way  for  the  publication  of  books  in  the  spoken  languages  of 
China. 

5th.  In  support  of  the  opinion  of  the  utility  of  pictures  to  those 


388  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

engaged  in  a  great  work  of  reformation  among  any  people,  we 
may  appeal  to  the  history  of  the  Reformation  from  Popery  in  Eu- 
rope in  the  sixteenth  century.  According  to  Merle  d'Aubigne, 
vol.  iv.,  page  17,  "Hawkers  were  selling  Christian  pamphlets, 
short  and  easy  to  read,  written  in  Latin  and  in  German,  and  orna- 
mented with  engravings,  in  which  the  errors  of  Rome  were  vigor- 
ously attacked."  And  even  Martin  Luther  thought  it  not  beneath 
his  notice  to  prepare  such  books.  We  could  not  express  more  hap- 
pily what  we  want,  than  in  the  words  just  quoted.  We  want 
Christian  tracts,  short  and  easy  to  read,  both  in  the  book  style, 
and  the  colloquial  language  of  this  people; — we  want  them  illus- 
trated with  engravings,  and  we  want  them  not  only  to  attack  the 
nonsense  and  wickedness  of  idol  worship,  but  to  attack  that  sense- 
less ignorance  of  this  people,  which  teaches  them  that  they  are 
the  men,  and  wisdom  exists  only  within  the  boundaries  of  the 
Central  Kingdom. 

Among  the  cuts  in  the  preceding  list  are  eighteen  giving  repre- 
sentations of  English,  French,  German,  Indian,  African,  Asiatic, 
and  Polynesian  costumes  and  pursuits.  What  could  be  more  ap- 
propriate than  a  little  book  containing  those  eighteen  pictures, 
with  a  short  description  attached  to  each,  specifying  where  each 
nation  is  found,  its  population,  government,  religion,  arts,  com- 
merce, &c.  We  have  seen  respectable  Chinese  lost  in  astonish- 
ment when  told  of  only  three  or  four  nations  besides  their  own  ; 
for  they  had  no  previous  notion  that  there  were  any  people  under 
the  sun  except  the  Chinese  and  a  few  outside  barbarians. 

We  might  pursue  this  subject  further,  and  give  many  details  to 
illustrate  our  meaning,  but  perhaps  this  is  sufficient.  We  only 
add,  that  while  for  the  present  our  list  may  be  considered  tolerably 
complete,  as  far  as  the  more  important  objects  in  natural  history 
and  purely  miscellaneous  subjects  are  concerned,  it  is  very  defi- 
cient in  some  that  we  are  most  anxious  to  possess,  especially  sub- 
jects relating  to  Scripture  history. 

December  25th,  184C.  W.  M.  LoWRIE. 


Ningpo,  December  31st,  1846. 
REV.  JOHN  C.  LOWRIE — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : — Your  truly  welcome  letter  of  June  22d, 
came  to  hand  to-day.  I  know  not  why  it  was  so  long  on  the  road. 
A  letter  from  another  person  in  New  York,  written  on  the  same 
day,  reached  me  six  weeks  ago.  But  we  have  to  submit  to  some 
inconvenience  up  here  about  our  correspondence.  As  another  ex- 
ample, on  the  18th  of  September,  we  received  the  papers  contain- 
ing the  proceedings  of  the  General  Assembly,  for  about  one-half 
the  meeting ;  the  proceedings  of  the  remaining  half  have  not  come 
yet,  though  it  is  now  three  and  a  half  months  later,  unless  they 
were  received  to-day,  of  which  I  have  not  been  informed.  What 
has  become  of  the  Foreign  Missionary  ?  We  have  the  Chronicle 


LETTERS.  389 

of  May,  June,  and  July,  but  no  Foreign  Missionary  for  those 
months. 

...  I  perceive  we  shall  not  agree  about  millenarianism,  and  I  hardly 
know  whether  it  is  worth  while  to  open  the  subject.  I  still  find 
much  comfort  and  encouragement  in  it ;  but  the  question  of  com- 
fort or  encouragement  is  not  the  first  one.  Is  it  in  the  Scripture  ? 
If  it  is,  then  "  he  that  doeth  his  will  shall  know  of  the  doctrine," 
and  enjoy  its  fruits.  I  fear,  however,  that  you  misapprehend  my 
views  in  regard  to  the  use  of  means,  such  as  preaching,  &c.  I 
have  lost  none  of  my  confidence  in  preaching,  but  rather  have  felt 
it  increased  by  means  of  these  views.  I  think,  as  you  do  too  of 
course,  that  when  Christ  comes,  we  shall  have  fuller  revelations 
of  his  will  than  we  have  now.  Until  he  comes,  the  New  Testa- 
ment is  our  rule,  the  preaching  of  the  word  our  duty,  and  by  the 
word  of  God  as  it  now  is,  and  the  preaching  of  that  word,  every 
elect  soul  in  the  present  dispensation  must  be  saved.  On  this  the 
millenarian  and  the  anti-millenarian  are  both  agreed,  and  I  see 
not  how  the  views  of  either  interfere  with  the  command  to  go  and 
preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature.  We  differ  in  this  :  the  anti- 
millenarian  thinks  the  glorious  promises  of  the  prophets,  ("  blessed 
is  he  that  readeth  and  keepeth  them,")  will  be  fulfilled  in  the  pres- 
ent dispensation,  and  by  the  use  of  the  present  means  ;  but  the 
millenarian  thinks  not.  "  Many  are  called  but  few  are  chosen," 
and  as  long  as  the  New  Testament  is  the  only  rule  for  our  direc- 
tion, I  cannot  see  what  right  we  have  to  believe  that  the  above 
words  will  not  be  true — "  many  called,  but  few  chosen."  It  has 
ever  been  so.  No  preacher,  however  faithful,  ever  sees  the  major- 
ity of  his  people  for  a  course  of  years  on  the  Lord's  side.  Payson 
did  not ;  Nettleton  did  not ;  Whitefield  did  not ;  the  Apostle  Paul 
did  not.  He  preached  the  word  in  Ephesus  until  "  all  that  were 
in  Asia  heard  the  word  of  the  Lord,"  but.  even  then  it  was  true ; 
many  were  called,  few  were  chosen.  When  shall  we  see  more 
faithful,  more  successful  preachers  of  the  gospel  than  Paul  ?  Yet 
if  we  do  not,  what  right  have  we  to  hope  that  more  abundant  suc- 
cess will  crown  ministerial  efforts  ?  And  suppose  it  should  be  true ; 
suppose  a  nation  be  born  in  a  day  ;  suppose  that  "  all  shall  know 
the  Lord,"  "  thy  people  shall  be  all  righteous,"  then  what  becomes 
of  our  Saviour's  words,  "  many  are  called  but  FEW  chosen?" 

I  prefer  supposing  that  there  is  a  dispensation  yet  to  come,  as 
far  to  surpass  the  present  as  the  present  surpasses  the  Levitical. 
Nor  do  I  think  this  opinion  is  justly  liable  to  the  charge  of  under- 
valuing our  present  privileges  ;  at  least  such  is  far  from  my  inten- 
tion ;  and  still  less  of  throwing  discredit  on  the  work  or  power  of 
the  ever  blessed  Spirit.  But  in  the  meantime,  this  glorious  dis- 
pensation is  not  come.  And  till  it  does  come,  he  would  be  a  most 
unfaithful  servant  who  should  fold  his  hands,  or  neglect  the  work 
("to  every  man  his  work,"  Mark  xiii.  34)  assigned  him  by  his 
Lord. 

I  cannot  expect  you  should  agree  with  all  this.     Some  of  it  you 


390  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER   BI.  LOWRIE. 

may  think  enthusiastic,  or  even  fantastic ;  but  at  present  I  do  not 
see  otherwise. 

Shall  we  let  this  subject  drop  ?  lam  not  anxious  to  drop  it,  nor 
to  continue  it.  I  try  to  hear  calmly  all  that  may  be  said  against 
it,  and  to  stale  calmly  all  I  have  to  say  for  it.  Deeply  important 
as  it  seems  to  me  to  be,  it  is  not  a  point  of  faith  on  which  salva- 
tion depends,  and  I  should  grieve  extremely  to  make  it  a  bone  of 
contention  with  those  I  love,  and  with  whom  I  agree  on  so  many 
other  points,  I  seldom  speak  of  it  here.  I  may  be  mistaken. 
You  may  be  mistaken ;  or  we  may  both  be  in  some  mistake.  If 
your  views  be  true,  then  at  the  inevitable  death  that  awaits  us, 
and  which  in  all  ordinary  cases  nature  must  dread,  or  at  least 
cannot  desire,  we  shall  see  alike.  If  my  views  be  true,  then  at 
that  glorious  coming  which  my  soul  longs  for  exceedingly,  and 
which  may  be  before  either  of  us  shall  die,  we  shall  both  think  alike. 
I  think  I  have  the  advantage  in  the  prospect  to  which  I  look  for- 
ward, and  that  advantage  is  not  marred  by  thinking  that  your 
different  views  will  prevent  your  enjoying  it  when  it  comes,  though 
it  is  a  pity  not  to  enjoy  what  is  held  up  that  we  may  enjoy  it. 

By  God's  grace  I  am  preaching,  though  it  be  with  stammering 
lips,  and  my  prospects  of  mastering  the  language  are  now  so  fair 
that  I  would  be  very  unwilling  to  leave  this  mission.  I  am, 
therefore,  satisfied  and  anxious  to  remain ;  and  my  present  feel- 
ing, which  indeed  has  almost  always  been  my  feeling,  is  not  to 
leave  unless  the  Committee,  who  took  the  responsibility  of  sending 
me  to  China,  will  take  the  responsibility  of  sending  me  away.  I 
am  glad  and  happy  to  be  here.  It  is  true  I  am  lonely,  sometimes 
very  lonely,  but  this  loneliness  is  appointed  to  me  by  Him  who 
knows  better  than  I  do  what  is  best  for  me.  I  have  not  sought  it, 
nor  run  into  it  rashly,  and  in  due  season  it  will  be  diminished  ;  or 
if  not,  then  it  is  best  that  it  be  so,  and  I  will,  if  not  gladly,  at  least 
resignedly,  or  if  not  resignedly,  at  least  praying  to  be  resigned, 
confess  myself  a  stranger  and  a  pilgrim  on  the  earth. 

The  clock  strikes  twelve,  p.  M.,  and  1847  has  begun.  I  have 
disobeyed  your  injunction ;  but,  in  the  first  place,  it  is  very  seldom 
that  this  happens.  I  am  almost  always  in  bed  before  eleven. 
Second,  I  was  anxious  to  write  as  much  of  this  letter  as  possible, 
for  it  must  be  closed  to-morrow  or  next  day.  1  must  confess  I  did 
not  mean  to  spin  it  out  so  long.  Third,  I  do  not  disapprove  of  see- 
ing the  New  Year  in,  and  commencing  it  with  prayer.  I  wish 
you,  and  yours,  a  happy  New  Year. 

I  am  always  interested  in  the  accounts  of  your  church,  and  pray 
for  a  blessing  on  it.  If  you  are  ever  "  disheartened"  with  any 
among  the  people  you  have  to  deal  with,  just  fancy  what  kind  of 
congregations  /  have.  I  will  try  and  give  you  a  peep  at  one,  some 
of  these  days,  and  you  will  not  dare  to  say  a  word  after  that.  That 
leads  me  to  ask,  how  much  egotism  is  allowable  occasionally 
in  articles  for  the  Chronicle?  I  could  write  an  article  now,  on 
preaching  to  a  heathen  audience,  which  might  surprise  and  edify 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  391 

some  of  your  hearers,  and  give  them  juster  views  of  the  real 
nature  of  missionary  work,  than  fifty  Tabernacle  speeches.  I  am 
not  boasting,  for  I  grieve  over  a  vast  many  speeches  about  mis- 
sions that  are  published;  they  are  well  meant,  but  all  wrong. 
But  to  give  such  an  article,  I  must  enter  into  my  own  feelings 
pretty  deeply,  and  write  just  as  I  would  talk  to  you,  or  any  other 
dear  friend,  and  the  little  pronoun  "I"  must  come  forward  pretty 
often.  This  is  rather  hazardous;  some  really  humble  men,  like 
Brother  Sawyer,  could  do  it  very  well;  but  there  are  very  few  who 
can  do  it.  Yet  really,  as  far  as  I  can  see,  such  relations  of  one's 
own  experience  are  among  the  most  interesting  and  profitable 
articles ;  for  many  a  man,  if  he  has  only  the  right  spirit,  may 
write  an  article  of  that  kind  well,  who,  if  he  attempted  to  write  an 
edifying  article  on  general  principles,  would  soon  become  very 
dull.  .  .  . 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


June  llth.  There  has  been  some  talk  of  poisoning  of  late  in  a 
district  about  a  hundred  miles  from  Ningpo,  and  some  placards 
have  been  sent  here  and  pasted  up  in  conspicuous  places,  warn- 
ing the  people  not  to  take  up  articles  of  food  that  may  be  found 
in  the  streets,  lest  they  should  contain  poison.  To-day  my  ser- 
vant came  in  great  trepidation,  and  said  he  had  heard  people  say 
that  a  man  in  the  city,  having  eaten  a  cake,  became  suddenly 
ill,  and  his  body  becoming  black  all  over,  he  soon  died.  This 
has  aroused  suspicion  that  the  poisoners  are  abroad  here.  In 
consequence  of  this,  some  persons  have  had  a  large  number  of 
the  above  mentioned  placards  printed  off  here  and  distributed 
about.  This  is  considered  a  very  meritorious  act,  though  almost 
the  only  effect  it  can  have,  will  be  to  create  a  panic  terror  among 
the  people. 

June  12th.  The  talk  of  poisoning  is  more  general  than  ever; 
and  a  man  having  been  taken  sick  after  eating  a  cake  bought  in 
a  shop,  the  shopkeeper  was  taken  before  the  mayor  of  the  city, 
and  sentenced  to  be  beaten  with  forty  strokes  of  the  bamboo. 
Tins  was  chiefly  to  pacify  the  people,  for  many  say  that  even  if 
the  cake  was  the  cause  of  the  sickness,  there  is  no  proof  that  it 
was  not  left  in  the  shop  by  some  evil-minded  person  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  shopman.  Among  a  multitude  of  reports  that 
are  flying  about,  for  the  people  are  fairly  panic-stricken,  is  one 
which  says  that  about  one  hundred  persons  have  lost  their  lives 
in  Seaou-shan,  and  another,  that  a  Buddhist  priest  there  being  de- 
tected, or  at  least  suspected  of  being  concerned  in  the  nefarious 
business,  was  seized  by  the  people,  and  on  examination  was  found 
to  have  cakes  and  rolls,  and  drugs  of  various  kinds  concealed 
about  his  person.  In  all  probability  the  whole  affair  is  a  panic, 
originating  from  some  persons  having  been  taken  with  cholera 


392  MEMOIR   OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

morbus,  a  disease  which  the  abundance  of  unripe  fruit  in  this 
warm  weather  may  easily  produce.  Had  it  been  really  a  case  of 
poisoning,  and  half  so  serious  as  the  placards  represented  it,  the 
officers  at  Seaou-shan  would  doubtless  have  issued  some  procla- 
mations, and  sent  suitable  warnings,  duly  certified,  to  put  the 
people  on  their  guard,  but  as  yet  not  a  solitary  official  notice  of 
the  affair  has  come  to  light. 

June  22d.  The  talk  of  poisoning  still  continues  to  harass  the 
people,  and  when  any  man  has  the  least  symptoms  of  colic  or 
cholera,  he  at  once  fancies  himself  poisoned.  The  poor  strolling 
venders  find  their  "  occupation  gone,"  and  the  respectable  shop- 
men are  putting  up  cards,  stating  that  the  people  need  not  ap- 
prehend any  danger  from  the  articles  purchased  at  their  shops  ; 
also,  that  they  will  in  no  case  receive  back  articles  of  food  which 
they  may  have  sold,  for  fear  that  some  persons  may  have  put  drugs 
in  them,  and  then  taken  them  back  in  order  to  injure  the  unwary. 
It  is  reported  to-day  that  a  family  of  seven  persons  just  across  the 
bridge  of  boats,  having  eaten  a  certain  kind  of  yellow  fish,  and 
feeling  unpleasantly,  they  all  resorted  to  the  disgusting  specific  of 
the  day  for  cure. 

The  panic  about  the  poisoners  continued  during  all  the  month 
of  June  and  part  of  July;  and  far  from  being  confined  toNingpo, 
was  as  bad  and  even  worse  in  places  hundreds  of  miles  off.  In 
Chu*an,  Chinhai,  Funghwa,  Shaou-hing,  Woo-chow,  Hangchow, 
in  this  province,  and  even  as  far  as  Shanghai  in  the  province 
north  of  this,  it  caused  extreme  terror  among  all  classes  of  the 
people.  It  gradually  died  away  during  the  month  of  July,  but 
was  speedily  succeeded  by  a  report  of  a  different  kind,  which  pre- 
vailed almost  as  extensively,  and  caused  even  more  distress. 

The  summer  of  1846  is  likely  to  be  long  memorable  in  Ningpo, 
on  account  of  the  many  calamities,  some  real  and  some  imaginary, 
with  which  it  was  accompanied.  The  year  has  been  fruitful  in 
terrors,  and  some  were  so  wide-spread  that  it  was  impossible  to 
collect  all  the  facts,  or  a  tenth  part  of  the  reports  concerning  them. 
Some  of  us  heard  one  set  of  stories,  and  some  another,  and  even 
contradictory  statements,  which  must  account  for  some  of  the  dis- 
crepancies between  the  following  sketch  and  some  others  that  you 
may  have  seen. 

The  month  of  April  was  distinguished  by  a  season  of  unusually 
rainy  weather.  There  were  but  one  or  two  fair  days  in  the  whole 
month,  and  most  of  the1  time  the  rain  fell  in  torrents.  It  is  in  the 
month  of  April  that  the  rice  is  transplanted,  and  though  some  rain 
is  required  for  this  purpose,  a  superabundance  is  a  great  evil, 
which  was  the  case  this  year.  In  consequence  of  the  rain  the 
officers  of  the  city,  about  the  middle  of  the  month,  appointed  sacri- 
fices, and,  by  way  of  further  propitiation,  ordered  that  for  the 
space  of  seven  days  no  swine  should  be  slaughtered  for  food. 
This  is  called  the  Kintoo,  or  prohibition  of  slaughtering,  and  is 
frequently  resorted  to  in  times  of  distress.  But  their  miserable 


JOURNAL   AT    NINOPO.  393 

idols  did  not  hear  their  prayers,  and,  as  a  last  resort,  about  the 
end  of  the  month,  some  of  them  were  put  out  in  the  rain  !  The 
rain  ceased  soon  after  this,  and  the  people  continued  mad  on 
their  idols. 

During-  the  month  of  May  but  little  rain  fell,  and  the  weather 
became  rather  warm,  though  not  oppressively  so.  The  summer 
of  1845  had  been  so  mild  and  pleasant  that  we  did  not  think  of 
the  weather  becoming  unusually  hot  this  year.  But  the  months 
of  June,  July,  and  August,  were  dreadfully  hot.  None  of  us  had 
before  experienced  such  long-continued  hot  weather.  During  the 
three  years  that  I  was  in  Macao,  although  that  place  is  eight  de- 
grees farther  south  than  this,  and  in  the  torrid  zone,  the  thermom- 
eter never  rose  so  high  as  it  did  here  day  after  day,  and  even 
week  after  week.  Some  houses  and  some  situations  were  much 
hotter  than  others.  My  house  being  in  a  favorable  situation  for 
the  wind,  was  perhaps  as  comfortable  a  house  as  any  in  Ningpo, 
and  several  others  were  much  warmer.  The  sitting-room  of  my 
house  had  a  ceiling  to  it,  and  a  fresh  current  of  air  all  the  time, 
and  yet  during  those  three  months  the  thermometer,  in  the  middle 
of  the  day,  commonly  rose  above  ninety  degrees,  and  on  eleven 
different  days  it  stood  for  several  hours  above  ninety-eight  degrees. 
This  was  in  the  coolest  place  in  the  house ;  in  the  open  air,  and 
when  exposed  to  the  sun's  rays,  it  rose  rapidly  to  130  degrees 
and  higher.  You  may  imagine  that  it  is  not  very  conducive  to 
comfort  to  be  breathing  an  atmosphere  hotter  than  the  tempera- 
ture of  one's  own  blood.  The  winds  came  in  like  blasts  from  a 
furnace  ;  and  if  the  windows  were  shut,  to  keep  out  the  hot  air, 
the  beating  of  the  sun  on  our  roofs  made  the  houses  like  so  many 
ovens.  The  lightest  clothes  w.ere  a  burden,  and  we  seldom  vent- 
ured out  of  the  house  except  in  the  morning  or  after  sunset.  As 
might  be  supposed,  this  weather  was  very  trying ;  several  of  our 
number  found  it*  very  hard  to  endure,  and  some  were  made  quite 
sick  by  it. 

From  the  experience  of  the  past  summer,  we  have  been  com- 
pletely convinced  that  good  houses  are  indispensable  to  health  in 
this  climate.  We  are  at  present  all  living  in  Chinese  houses, 
which  are  not  made  for  constitutions  like  ours.  The  low  rooms 
and  thin  roofs  and  walls,  are  miserable  defences  against  the  heat 
of  such  burning  suns.  It  is  true  we  are  not  likely  to  have  many 
summers  so  hot  as  the  past,  for  even  the  natives  spoke  of  it  as 
"  extraordinarily  hot ;"  but  we  shall  have  them  occasionally,  aud 
houses  built  under  our  own  inspection,  might  be  so  arranged  as 
to  diminish  much  of  their  oppressiveness. 

Next,  added  to  the  oppressiveness  of  the  heat,  was  the  fearful 
drought.  I  have  spoken  of  the  abundant  rains  of  April.  They 
were  followed  by  a  four  months'  drought  which,  like  Pharaoh's 
lean  kine,  devoured  up  every  remembrance  of  the  preceding  rains. 
During  the  months  of  May,  June,  July,  and  August,  but  one  copi- 
ous shower  fell ;  and  most  of  the  time  the  heavens  over  us  were 


394  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

as  brass,  and  the  earth  as  powder  and  dust  beneath  our  feet. 
Clouds  sometimes  sailed  over  our  heads,  or  gathered  on  the  hills 
around  the  city,  and  sometimes  the  thunder  and  a  few  drops  of 
rain  excited  our  hopes,  but  they  passed  away  again,  and  more 
than  once  I  have  heard  natives  of  the  place  say,  as  they  saw  them 
disappear :  Teen  puh  kung  lo  i/u, — "  Heaven  is  unwilling  to  drop 
rain."  Vegetation  suffered  exceedingly.  The  deepest  canals 
were  drained  dry  in  the  vain  attempt  to  supply  the  wants  of  the 
growing  rice  crops.  The  canals  being  dry,  the  internal  navigation 
of  the  country  was  in  great  measure  stopped.  Deep  anxiety  sat 
on  many  faces.  Public  processions  were  appointed  in  honor  of 
the  gods,  and  the  officers  of  the  city,  on  two  or  three  separate  oc- 
casions issued  the  Kin-too,  which  was  at  last  observed  so  rigidly, 
that  for  nearly  a  month  a  pound  of  pork  could  be  obtained  only 
by  stealth  and  previous  arrangement. 

In  my  journal  of  August  17,  I  find  the  following  entry : 

The  drought  still  continues  with  unabated  severity.  No  rain 
of  any  consequence  has  fallen  for  nearly  three  months,  and  the 
summer  has  been  one  of  unusual  heat.  The  first  crop  of  rice  is 
scant,  and  it  is  doubtful  whether  any  amount  of  rain  would  now 
save  the  second  crop.  In  some  places  the  people  are  in  distress 
for  want  of  water  to  drink,  and  those  in  the  city  who  have  not 
stored  up  a  sufficient  supply  of  rain  water,  are  obliged  to  buy 
water  for  daily  use,  at  a  price  that  interferes  materially  with  the 
small  gains  of  the  poorer  classes.  In  consequence  of  all  this  there 
is  great  distress  throughout  the  land,  and  the  people  are  flocking 
to  the  temples,  and  forming  processions  to  beseech  the  gods  to 
grant  rain.  The  country  people  and  farmers  who  suffer  most  are 
the  most  earnest.  To-day  I  met  one  of  the  processions  just  come 
in  from  the  country,  which  must  have  numbered  several  thousands 
of  persons.  It  consisted  of  farmers  and  their  sons,  whose  bronzed 
skins  bore  witness  to  their  daily  occupations,  and  whose  melan- 
choly faces  showed  they  were  in  earnest.  I  have  seldom  seen  so 
many  really  sad  countenances.  Nearly  every  person  bore  a  long 
bamboo  with  a  few  withered  leaves  on  the  end,  and  a  napkin  or 
colored  cloth  attached  to  the  middle.  There  were  also  sedan 
chairs,  lanterns,  a  ship,  and  an  idol  god  in  a  chair,  with  a  table 
and  a  smoking  incense  vessel  before  him.  Gongs,  and  cymbals, 
and  drums,  were  beaten,  and  conch-shells  and  trumpets  were 
blown.  A  curious  feature  in  the  procession  was  the  way  in  which 
the  windows  of  the  sedan  chairs  and  sides  of  the  lanterns  were 
made.  Across  the  frames  were  stretched  large  cobwebs,  with  nat- 
ural flowers  stuck  on  them,  so  that  they  looked  like  very  fine  em- 
broidered gauze. 

"  When  shall  we  have  rain  ?  It  assumes  a  very  serious  aspect, 
now  that  for  so  long  a  time  we  have  had  none. 

As  if  the  real  evils  of  the  heat  and  drought  were  not  enough, 
the  people  added  others  from  their  own  folly  and  superstitions.  I 
have  already  spoken  of  the  alarm  caused  by  the  report  of  poison- 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  395 

ers.  This  foolish  story  gradually  died  away  during  the  month  of 
July,  but  was  succeeded  by  another  equally  appalling,  of  which 
the  following  extracts,  entered  in  ray  journal  aC  the  time,  will  give 
some  account : 

August  1,  1846.  There  has  been  no  little  excitement  here  for 
a  few  days  past,  on  account  of  a  supposed  visitation  of  evil  spirits. 
It  seems  that  some  persons  living  in  the  main  street  were  awa- 
kened a  few  nights  ago  by  a  great  noise,  as  though  a  large  body 
of  disorderly  men  were  marching  and  carousing  through  the 
streets.  On  looking  out,  however,  nobody  was  seen,  and  the  con- 
clusion drawn  was  that  the  noise  had  been  caused  by  chejin,  pa- 
per men.*  The  story  spread,  and  it  was  speedily  reported  that 
there  were  three  thousand  evil  spirits,  that  they  had  been  to  Yu- 
yaou  and  Funghwa,  and  have  now  come  here,  and  will  soon  visit 
Chinhai  and  Chusan.  Of  course  they  can  have  come  for  no  good 
purpose,  and  to  drive  them  away,  gongs  and  drums  have  been 
beaten  and  crackers  fired  for  several  nights,  filling  the  air  with  a 
deafening  noise  for  hours  together.  This  has  caused  a  great  de- 
mand for  gongs,  and  it  is  said  that  the  gong  shops  in  the  city  have 
disposed  of  nearly  all  they  had  on  hand.  In  default  of  gongs, 
brass  kettles  are  supposed  to  be  nearly  as  efficacious.  Strips  of 
yellow  paper  with  four  mystical  characters,  whose  sound  and  sig- 
nification no  one  pretends  to  know,  have  been  sold  by  myriads, 
and  pasted  up  over  every  door  and  window,  hoping  to  prevent  the 
entrance  of  the  evil  spirits. 

The  reason  for  beating  the  gongs  is  thus  explained :  There 
are  two  great  principles  called  the  Yang  and  the  Yin,  under  which 
all  substances  material  or  immaterial  are  supposed  to  be  arranged. 
These  two  are  in  perpetual  opposition,  and  if  either  one  of  them 
attains  too  much  ascendency,  great  confusion  is  the  inevitable  re- 
sult. It  so  happens  that  the  evil  spirits  which  cause  all  the 
present  disturbance  belong  to  the  Yin  principle,  while  the  sound 
of  brass  vessels  belongs  to  the  Yang.  By  beating  the  brass  ves- 
sels the  Yang  principle  will  be  enabled  to  resist  the  too  great 
ascendency  of  the  Yin,  which  is  shown  in  the  present  incursion 
of  evil  spirits,  and  thus  it  is  hoped  order  will  be  again  restored. 

*  These  paper  men  seem  to  hold  the  same  position  in  the  superstitions  of  China  that 
the  '•  familiar  spirits,"  held  in  the  times  of  the  Old  Testament,  or  the  "evil  spirits,"  un- 
der the  control  of  conjurers  and  witches  of  our  own  and  other  Christian  lands.  In  the 
History  of  the  Three  States,  which  is  probably  the  most  popular  book  of  light  reading 
in  the  Chinese  language,  is  the  following  notice  of  them :  "When  the  battle  began 
Chang-paou  commenced  his  magical  arts,  whereupon  arose  a  great  tempest  of  wind 
and  thunder ;  the  dust  flew  about ;  the  stones  rolled  over ;  a  black  cloud  overspread 
the  heavens,  and,  as  it  revolved,  men  and  horses  came  down  from  above.  Thereupon, 
at  a  convenient  place,  Heuenteh  gave  the  signal,  and  his  men  poured  out  the  mixture 
of  the  blood  of  swine,  sheep  and  dogs,  previously  prepared.  By  doing  this  the  power 
of  the  magic  spell  was  broken,  and  nothing  was  seen  in  the  heavens  except  paper  men 
and  straw  horses  rapidly  falling.  The  wind  and  thunder  ceased  to  sound,  the  sand 
and  stones  became  quiet  again  and  Chang-paou  seeing  his  schemes  confounded, 
turned  his  head  to  flee  and  his  followers  were  defeated  with  prodigious  slaughter."  In 
the  colloquial  dialect  of  Ningpo,  chejin  is  changed  into  TSZ'  ANB,  and  may  be  expressed 
in  English  either  by  witches  or  evil  spirits. 


396  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

Great  excitement  prevails  in  the  city,  and  all  the  higher  officers 
are  going  in  state  to  the  temples,  to  pray  that  the  evil  spirits  may 
be  driven  away. 

August  3d.  We  were  aroused  shortly  after  three  o'clock,  A.  M., 
by  an  earthquake.  Having  been  sound  asleep,  it  was  some 
moments  before  I  became  aware  of  the  real  cause  of  the  disturb- 
ance. There  was  a  dull  heavy  roaring  in  the  air,  coming  from 
the  north  gate  of  the  city,  and  the  roof  of  the  house  moved  as  if 
being  gradually  lifted  off  by  a  strong  wind.  Thinking  it  was  a 
strong  wind,  I  was  about  to  get  up  and  close  the  windows,  when 
I  perceived  that  the  bed  and  the  whole  house  were  moving  from 
end  to  end.  Jumping  up,  and  going  to  the  window,  I  observed 
that  the  motion  still  continued,  and  being  now  sensible  of  what 
it  was,  and  fearing  lest  the  house  should  fall,  I  ran  down  stairs 
and  out  of  doors,  and  called  to  my  people,  who  were  all  awake, 
to  come  out.  The  motion,  however,  had  ceased  before  I  got  out. 
All  this  took  up  probably  less  than  a  minute,  though  how  long 
the  shock  might  have  lasted  before  I  was  awaked,  I  do  not  know. 
The  consternation  that  prevailed  in  the  city  was  indescribable. 
Owing  to  the  rumors  and  panic  caused  by  the  fear  of  the  evil 
spirits,  many  people  have  been  sitting  up  for  several  nights  past, 
and  when  the  shock  came  it  was  so  violent  that  even  the  sleepers 
were  awakened,  and  the  universal  idea  was  that  the  evil  spirits 
were  coming  to  take  the  city  by  storm.  The  inmates  of  the  house 
next  door  to  mine  set  up  a  terrific  shriek,  and  in  an  instant  the 
whole  city  with  its  quarter  of  a  million  of  inhabitants,  rang  with 
the  beating  of  gongs,  the  firing  of  rockets  and  crackers,  and  the 
shouts  and  crying  of  men  in  terror.  To  increase  the  alarm  a 
bright  falling  star  shot  from  the  zenith  to  the  north,  leaving  a  long 
train  of  light  behind  it,  and  to  many  terrified  imaginations  it 
doubtless  seemed  as  if  the  Yin  and  Yang  principles  were  wrapped 
in  endless  confusion,  and  heaven  and  earth  about  to  end.  The 
noise  and  beating  of  gongs  continued  so  long  and  loud  that  it  was 
impossible  to  distinguish  any  other  sounds.  I  regretted  this,  for 
once  or  twice  I  fancied  there  was  the  same  dull,  heavy  roar  that 
struck  me  on  first  awaking,  and  the  Chinese,  thinking  it  was  the 
shouting  of  the  evil  spirits,  cried  out,  "  There,  they  are  !  They 
are  coming !"  It  may  have  been,  however,  only  the  blended 
sounds  of  rockets  and  gongs,  and  the  cries  of  men  in  terror,  as 
they  rose  over  the  night  air.  It  was  with  difficulty  I  could  pre- 
vent even  my  own  servants  from  joining  in  the  uproar,  and  one 
of  them  asked  me,  with  a  trembling  voice,  "  Teacher,  is  this  the 
evil  spirit's  coming?"  Many  cried  like  children  when  in  fits  of 
the  extremest  terror.  It  was  a  solemn  thought  to  think  :  if  such 
the  terror  occasioned  by  a  single  shock  of  an  earthquake,  what 
will  it  be  when  the  heavens  and  the  earth  shall  pass  away  with  a 
great  noise  ? 

August  9th.  In  consequence  of  the  earthquake,  and  especially 
the  strange  sounds  accompanying  it,  the  belief  in  the  presence  of 


JOURNAL    AT    NINQPO.  397 

evil  spirits  has  taken  a  still  firmer  hold  on  the  mind  of  the  people. 
Multitudes  of  them  have  prepared  green  branches  of  trees,  sup- 
posing they  would  be  of  use  in  warding  off  the  invisible  foes,  and 
the  most  absurd  rumors  are  abroad  as  to  the  cause  of  this  visita- 
tion. Many  attribute  their  coining  to  the  Roman  Catholics,  who 
are  about  rebuilding  the  chapel  which  they  possessed  here  in  the 
reign  of  Kanghe,  while  others  attribute  them  to  the  Protestant 
missionaries. 

One  of  our  missionaries  lives  in  the  western  part  of  the  city, 
and  the  people  around  him  look  with  much  suspicion  on  him,  and 
on  ijis  wife.  Among  other  things,  they  have  it  reported  that 
when  he  and  his  wife  walk  on  the  wall  of  the  city  near  his  house, 
in  the  evening,  they  carry  a  bottle  containing  a  number  of  these 
invisible  people  with  them  ;  it  is  further  reported,  that  when  they 
take  out  the  cork  a  number  of  evil  spirits,  of  different  sizes,  come 
out  and  kneel  down  to  receive  his  commands,  and  then,  on  a  sig- 
nal, disperse  themselves  over  the  city.  Another  of  our  missiona- 
ries is  reported  to  have  forty-nine  of  the  evil  spirits  under  his  con- 
trol, and  some  of  the  worthy  citizens  who  have  seen  me  walking 
on  the  wall  about  sunset,  have  reported  that  they  saw  a  long 
white  devil  walking  there.  All  this  is  very  unpleasant;  the  peo- 
ple are  becoming  excited  and  alarmed,  and  if  they  were  at  all  of 
the  disposition  of  the  mobs  in  Canton,  it  would  not  be  difficult  to 
arouse  them  to  wreak  vengeance  on  the  few  defenceless  foreigners 
here,  whom  they  suppose  to  be  the  occasion  of  their  calamities. 
One  immediate  effect  has  been,  quite  to  break  up  my  soirees  on 
the  wall.  I  had  been  in  the  habit,  for  some  weeks,  of  sitting  down 
to  enjoy  the  cool  breeze  at  twilight,  on  the  wall  near  my  house, 
and  very  frequently  had  quite  a  little  congregation  of  the  people 
to  talk  to,  and  converse  with  on  religion  and  general  topics,  but 
now,  when  I  sit  down  there,  not  one  comes  near  me. 

The  sound  of  a  shaken  leaf  terrifies  them.  My  next  door 
neighbors  heard  their  paper  windows  rattling  last  night,  and  sup- 
posing the  evil  spirits  were  coming,  they  commenced  the  usual 
shrieking,  shouting,  and  beating  of  gongs,  much  to  my  discomfort; 
and  there  is  scarcely  a  night  in  which  I  am  not  waked  several 
times  by  the  noises  around.  Last  night  and  to-night  are  perhaps 
the  crisis  of  the  affair,  for  there  is  a  report  abroad,  that  six  persons 
of  particular  classes,  will  die  to-night,  if  they  happen  to  fall  asleep. 
In  consequence  of  this,  all  belonging  to  those  classes  (such  as  were 
born  under  the  influence  of  certain  constellations)  sat  up  all  last 
night,  and  will  sit  up  all  this  night,  fearing  that  if  they  sleep,  they 
will  be  of  the  number  of  the  six  that  must  die. 

Verily,  '  gross  darkness  covers  the  people.' 

August  21.  The  rumors  about  the  evil  spirits  have  taken  a 
firmer  hold  than  ever  of  the  people's  minds,  and  the  most  ridicu- 
«ous  stories  are  in  circulation.  Some  men  have  had  their  queues 
cut  off  at  night— of  course  by  the  witches,  and  the  people  are  be- 
cvrning  excited.  The  drought  still  continues ;  we  have  been  tan- 


398  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

talized  by  clouds,  and  a  drizzling  mist,  yesterday  and  to-day,  bat 
they  are  clouds  without  rain.  The  delusion  about  the  witches 
has  spread  all  over  the  province,  and  it  is  everywhere  attributed 
to  foreigners.  Placards  have  even  been  posted  up  at  Ningpo,  say- 
ing that  there  will  be  no  peace  here  till  the  foreigners  are  extir- 
pated. My  teacher  went  home  a  few  days  ago,  and  found  his 
family  in  the  greatest  distress.  He  had  not  gone  home  for  nearly 
a  month,  and  they  thought  I  had  either  locked  him  up,  or  be- 
witched him  that  he  could  not  go.  When  he  laughed  at  his 
neighbors  for  their  folly  in  believing  in  the  spirits,  they  said.  'Oh 
yes!  you  are  eating  the  bread  of  the  foreigners,  and  it  is^ery 
well  for  you  to  say  so.'  One  of  Miss  Aldersey's  adopted  orfnan 
children  died  a  few  days  ago,  and  the  common  report  is  that  she 
murdered  it.  It  is  common  here  to  keep  the  dates  of  people's 
births  in  the  temples  for  astrological  purposes.  It  has  been  re- 
ported that  some  foreigners  have  been  copying  these  registers,  arid 
that  all  whose  names  are  copied,  will  surely  die.  In  consequence 
great  numbers  of  the  people  have  gone  to  blot  their  names  out, 
lest  the  foreigners  should  lay  schemes  against  their  lives. 

August  22.  A  little  rain  last  night  and  to-day  supplies  us  with  water 
to  drink,  and  is  very  reviving  to  the  crops  and  to  the  hopes  of  the 
people.  But  still  there  is  not  enough  to  fill  the  canals  even  partially. 

August  25.  As  a  last  resort  to  drive  away  the  evil  spirits,  a 
procession  has  been  got  up  in  honor  of  Kwan-te,  the  god  of  war. 
Two  companies  of  it  went  past  my  house  on  the  wall  to-day,  in 
one  of  which  the  god  was  carried  along  in  great  state,  in  a  chair 
upborne  by  eight  bearers.  There  were  dragons,  lanterns,  gongs, 
&c.,  &c.,  as  in  other  processions ;  firing  of  crackers,  and  guns, 
and  noises  of  all  kinds.  Two  or  three  companies  of  soldiers  formed 
part  of  the  procession,  marching  in  beautiful  disregard  of  time  and 
order.  The  neighboring  foo  city  of  Shaou-hing  having  been  cleared 
of  evil  spirits  by  a  procession  in  honor  of  Kwan-te,  the  people  of 
this  city  are  induced  to  seek  deliverance  in  the  same  manner. 
How  dreadful  to  see  them  so  given  up  to  idolatry  !  I  was  deeply 
pained  as  they  passed  my  house,  bearing  their  earthen  gods,  and 
performing  their  silly  rites.  Oh  Lord,  how  long  ? 

August  26.  The  procession  is  still  kept  up,  going  through 
nearly  every  street  in  the  city.  As  the  neighborhood  around  my 
house  seems  to  have  been  particularly  infested  with  the  evil  spirits, 
probably  on  account  of  my  being  here,  a  second  detachment  came 
past  my  house  after  eleven  o'clock  at  night.  The  effect  of  the  nu- 
merous lanterns  was  very  pretty,  but  it  is  sad  to  see  such  worship 
paid  to  men.  This  Kwan-te  flourished  about  sixteen  hundred 
years  ago.  He  is  one  of  the  three  great  heroes  in  the  San  kwo 
che,  or  History  of  the  Three  States,  and  was  a  native  of  the  depart- 
ment of  Shaou-hing,  which  borders  on  Ningpo. 

Nothing  was  heard  of  the  evil  spirits  after  the  procession. 
The  people  having  full  confidence  in  the  power  of  Kwan-te,  their 
imaginations  were  at  rest,  and  the  evil  spirits  departed ! 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  399 

September  4.  Rain  at  last. !  More  rain  has  fallen  to-day  than 
all  that  has  fallen  since  the  first  of  May.  It  is  a  great  blessing. 
*He  sendeth  rain  on  the  just  and  on  the  unjust.' 

September  5.  In  consequence  of  the  rain  the  kin  too,  or  pro- 
hibition of  slaughtering  animals  for  food,  after  being  in  force  for 
several  weeks,  has  been  withdrawn.  Images  of  the  gods  from  all 
the  different  temples  had  been  collected  at  one  place,  for  the  con- 
venience of  the  chief  officers  of  the  city,  who  went  there  daily  to 
pray  to  them  altogether  to  send  rain.  In  consequence  of  the  rains, 
they  have  now  been  all  taken  back  to  their  respective  temples. 

^ctober  3.  'It  never  rains  but  it  pours.'  The  long  drought 
ofWhe  summer  has  been  followed  by  a  month  of  rains,  nearly  as 
fatal  to  the  hopes  of  the  husbandman.  The  canals  are  full  and 
overflowing,  and  the  fields  are  flooded.  Withal  it  is  cool,  and  it 
is  now  doubtful  whether  the  crops  will  ripen.  The  first  crop  was 
short,  and  the  second  crop,  after  being  withered  by  the  drought, 
and  nearly  drowned  by  the  rain,  is  not  in  a  condition  to  come  to 
maturity  in  the  moderate  and  cool  weather  now  coming  on.  A 
plain-looking  man,  in  the  ferry-boat,  as  I  crossed  over  to-day,  was 
expressing  his  belief  that  the  gods  pay  no  attention  to  what  is  done 
on  the  earth.  '  In  the  spring  they  heard  not  the  prayers  for  dry 
weather.  In  the  summer  they  heard  not  the  prayers  for  rain. 
Now  it  is  raining  too  much.  I  believe  that  heaven  rains  just  to 
please  itself.' 

In  consequence  of  the  cool  weather,  but  a  very  small  portion 
of  the  second  crop  of  rice  was  worth  anything.  In  many  fields 
the  farmers  did  not  attempt  to  gather  it. 

October  4th,  1846.  To-day  commenced  a  Chinese  service  in 
my  house.  Put  up  a  notice  at  the  door,  inviting  choo  pang-  yew, 
"all  the  friends,"  to  come  and  hear;  prepared  seats  for  about 
forty ;  and  about  the  hour  my  servant  went  to  the  door  and  in- 
vited the  passers-by  to  come  in.  Except  that  the  words  were 
spoken  with  a  totally  opposite  intention,  they  were  remarkably 
apropos.  See  Prov.  ix.  15,  16,  to  call  passengers  who  go  right  on 
their  ways.  "  Whoso  is  simple  let  him  turn  in  hither,  and  as  for 
him  that  wanteth  understanding,"  &c.  Some  came  in  with  their 
burdens ;  some  looking  half  afraid  ;  some  ran  right  out  again ; 
some  stood  up ;  some  sat  down  ;  some  smoked  their  pipes ;  some 
said  what  is  the  use  of  staying,  he  is  a  foreigner,  and  we  do  not 
understand  foreign  talk  ;  the  attention  was  none  of  the  best,  for 
it  required  all  my  courage  and  presence  of  mind  to  keep  going, 
and  the  people  feeling  quite  free  to  talk  and  make  remarks,  I  got 
along  no  better  than  I  anticipated.  I  am  not  discouraged,  though 
by  no  means  flattered  by  the  result  of  this  day's  experiment. 
There  were  some  forty  persons  present. 

October  16th.  A  revolting  instance  of  cruelty  occurred  opposite 
my  window.  A  poor  beggar  who  had  only  a  coarse  thin  pair  of 
trowsers,  and  a  straw  mat  for  his  shoulders,  in  v/eather  when  I 
find  woollen  clothes  comfortable,  had  by  some  means  obtained 


400  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

eighty  cash,  equal  to  five  cents,  from  a  Chinese  of  this  place. 
This  morning  the  creditor  came  upon  him  for  the  money,  and  as 
he  had  not  wherewith  to  pay  him,  began  to  beat  him  unmerci- 
fully. First,  he  struck  him  on  the  head  and  face  with  his  fist ; 
then  he  caught  him  by  the  hair,  and  beat  him  on  the  arms  ;  then 
he  took  his  queue  or  tail  in  one  hand,  and  putting  his  foot  on  the 
poor  man's  back,  pulled  till  I  thought  the  man's  hair  would  have 
come  all  out ;  then  he  struck  him  again  fiercely  in  the  face  ;  and 
finally  taking  off  his  shoe,  he  began  beating  him  on  the  bare 
back.  The  beggar  all  this  time  made  no  resistance,  but  uttered 
piteous  cries,  and  falling  down  beat  his  head  on  the  pavement, 
asking  mercy  !  Several  Chinese  passed,  and  some  looked  on,  but 
none  made  any  attempt  to  interfere.  Finding  the  brute  con- 
tinued his  beating,  I  could  stand  it  no  longer,  and  going  down,  I 
laid  my  stick  on  his  back  not  very  gently.  He  looked  up  in  some 
surprise,  and  seemed  half  enraged  and  half  frightened,  to  find  a 
foreigner  interfering.  I  asked  him  what  he  meant,  and  why  he 
beat  the  beggar  so  ?  He  sputtered  out  some  words,  but  began  to 
edge  off,  as  if  he  would  like  to  be  away  ;  so  I  told  him  to  clear 
out,  and  gave  him  another  blow  with  my  stick.  I  had  half  a 
notion  to  break  it  over  his  back.  He  seemed  glad  to  get  off  so 
well,  and  went  away  in  a  hurry.  The  poor  beggar's  gratitude 
was  inexpressible.  He  lay  down,  beat  his  head  on  the  ground, 
and  between  his  sobs  and  tears  and  bleeding  face,  let  me  know 
how  much  he  was  obliged  to  me.  I  gave  him  a  few  cash,  and 
one  of  my  servants,  who  seemed  much  interested,  gave  him  an 
old  garment.  Q,uite  a  crowd  had  come  ajround  us,  who  seemed 
quite  pleased  at  the  turn  affairs  had  taken. 

October  18th.  A  larger  and  better  audience  than  I  have  yet 
had  and  very  attentive.  Oh,  for  a  blessing  !  Otherwise  it  is  only 
speaking  to  dry  bones.  One  young  man  among  others  who  stayed 
after  the  service,  was  anxious  to  defend  himself  from  the  charge 
of  the  folly  of  idolatry,  and  declared  the  monks  and  nuns  were  a 
great  nuisance ;  that  he  thought  the  monks  had  better  marry  the 
nuns,  let  their  hair  grow,  destroy  the  temples,  and  follow  the 
advice  of  Confucius,  to  "honor  the  gods  and  keep  them  at  a 
distance." 

October  25th.  Service  not  so  well  attended  to-day ;  more  dis- 
order, fewer  persons,  and  less  attention  ;  must  expect  difficulty  in 
keeping  up  the  services.  If  it  is  hard  to  command  full  and  atten- 
tive audiences  at  home,  how  much  more  so  here,  where  the 
preacher  is  at  best  but  imperfectly  understood,  speaks  of  strange 
subjects,  sanctified  in  the  mind  of  his  hearers  by  no  familiar  or 
early  associations,  and  of  Arhich  they  see  no  possible  use?  Surely 
were  it  not  for  the  Word  of  God,  the  missionary  enterprise  were 
the  most  foolish  experiment  of  the  age.  Oh,  for  God's  Spirit! 
What  can  man  do? 

November  1st.  A  rainy  day,  but'  a  good  many  people  in  the 
street,  going  past  my  house ;  though  the  most  of  them  carried  bur- 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  401 

dens  or  bundles.  There  are  many  weddings  about  this  time,  and 
I  expected  a  small  audience ;  made  all  my  preparations,  however, 
and  went  to  my  chapel ;  sat  awhile,  and  one  man  came  in  and  sat 
down  ;  determined  to  keep  him  if  I  could ;  I  commenced  a  conver- 
sation, but  he  seemed  frightened  at  finding  himself  alone,  and  re- 
marked, "  nobody  has  come  yet,  and  I'll  not  stop  now,  I'll  come 
back  soon  !"  So  off  he  went,  and  no  more  came.  Many  passed 
the  door,  a  few  looked  at  the  notice,  but  all  went  their  ways,  one 
to  his  farm,  another  to  his  merchandise.  After  waiting  till  I  was 
satisfied  that  nobody  would  come,  (my  servant  had  already  invited 
a  number  of  the  passers-by  to  come  in,)  I  shut  the  door,  and  went 
and  prayed.-  Then  prepared  a  somewhat  attractive  card,  both  to 
paste  up  on  the  door,  and  to  distribute  about,  stating  that  there  is 
preaching  here,  &c.  If  this  does  not  succeed,  then  I  see  no  way 
but  to  get  a  better  location,  or  to  go  out  into  the  streets  and  by- 
ways, the  highways  and  hedges,  and  speak  unto  them.  Probably 
a  chapel  in  any  place,  after  the  novelty  wore  off,  would  be  de- 
serted; certainly,  I  suppose,  unless  the  Spirit  be  poured  out  from 
on  high.  Oh  Lord,  visit  this  people  ! 

Q,uite  cold  to-day ;  thermometer  down  to  51°,  and  a  foot-stove 
quite  comfortable. 

November  2d.  Quite  a  wintry  morning ;  thermometer  down  to 
43°,  which  is  much  lower  than  we  saw  it  during  this  whole  month 
last  year ;  not  prepared  for  it,  not  having  my  stove  up,  nor  cracks 
stopped ;  but  it  has  moderated  some  towards  evening. 

Went  to  call  on  l«he  Sz'  family,  the  head  of  which  has  recently 
died.  He  was,  take  him  all  in  all,  the  most  respectable  man  I 
have  known  in  Ningpo.  He  died  of  apoplexy ;  might  probably 
have  been  spared,  had  the  family  been  willing  to  have  him  bled ; 
but  as  the  Chinese  have  a  great  horror  of  blood-letting,  they  would 
not  consent,  and  the  poor  old  man  died  by  inches.  Poor,  verily  ! 
for  he  knew  enough  of  the  truth  and  rejected  it.  Oh  how  dread- 
ful is  the  reflection,  that  in  the  vast  majority  'of  cases,  our  labors 
only  seal  this  people  in  deeper  destruction.  They  would  have 
perished  if  we  had  not  come.  We  come  and  speak  to  them  ;  they 
refuse  to  receive  our  words,  and  sink  into  deeper  misery.  But  are 
we  free  from  all  blame  in  this?  Do  they  see  us  so  in  earnest,  as 
to  be  convinced  that  we  really  mean  what  we  say?  I  fear,  often 
not. 

My  servant  Azhih  has  been  getting  married  ;  the  process  has  been 
about,  this: — It  is  the  pa  rents' duty  to  provide  husbands  and  wives 
for  their  daughters  and  sons.  His  mother  was  old  ;  had  no  one 
in  the  house  to  attend  her;  and  it  was  thought,  by  his  marrying, 
she  might  get  a  daughter  to  wait  on  her.  So  after  long  searching 
and  inquiring,  a  damsel  was  pitched  upon.  The  Mei  jin,  middle 
man,  (or  woman,  for  it  may  be  either  or  both;  one  is  indispensable, 
and  yet  it  is  not  a  very  reputable  occupation  ;)  recommended  sev- 
eral, whom  Azhih's  mother  went  to  see ;  but  one  was  too  short, 
and  another  was  lame,  and  another  was  valued  at  too  high  a 

26 


402  MEMOIR    OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

price,  and  another,  being  the  daughter  of  a  literary  man,  her  family 
thought  they  would  be  degraded  by  her  marrying  a  servant.  Fi- 
nally one  was  found  who  satisfied  the  demands  of  the  careful 
mother;  but  a  high  price  was  asked.  It  was  finally  agreed  to 
give  seventy-four  dollars  for  her,  and  the  bargain  was  concluded. 
The  bride  was  to  be  furnished  by  her  friends,  with  a  quantity  of 
good  clothing  and  other  things,  and  so  the  papers  were  written,  and 
presents  of  cake,  wine,  &c.,  exchanged,  which  sealed  the  contract. 
In  the  meantime,  however,  several  messengers  passed  from  each 
party  to  the  other,  to  see  the  height,  appearance,  manners,  dispo- 
sition, &c.,  of  the  man  and  woman,  all  which  particulars  were  re- 
spectively communicated. 

It  was  then  necessary  to  select  a  wedding-day.  This  is  com- 
monly done  by  lot,  and  the  ninth  moon  and  twelfth  day  was 
finally  decided  on.  Several  months  passed  between  the  contract 
and  the  wedding,  in  which  not  much  seems  to  have  been  done  on 
either  side.  At  length  the  important  day  drew  near.  It  is  a  time 
of  much  more  trouble  to  the  groom  than  to  the  bride,  for  all  the 
arrangements  are  made  at  the  house  of  the  groom's  parents  ;  cards 
of  invitation  were  sent  round  in  due  form. 

We  went  to  the  house  of  the  groom's  mother  on  the  appointed 
day,  and  found  all  things  ready,  and  the  groom  waiting  with  some 
impatience  for  the  arrival  of  the  bride.  The  "  flowered  chair"  had 
been  sent  for  her.  About  twelve  o'clock  a  great  cry  was  made,  "  the 
flowered  chair  is  coming !"  Crackers  were  fired,  and  in  the  bustle 
the  groom  disappeared.  The  chair  was  brought  in  and  set  just 
before  the  main  room,  which  was  hung  all  round  with  inscriptions 
and  ornamented  with  lanterns,  a  table  was  spread  with  some  can- 
dlesticks and  inscriptions. 

Before  this  table  was  a  mat  and  cushion  for  the  leader  of  cere- 
monies ;  and  behind  this,  a  mat  and  two  cushions  for  the  bride 
and  groom.  The  bride  was  dressed  rather  richly,  but  her  face 
was  quite  covered  by  a  square  red  cloth,  that  hung  over  her  head. 
Her  attendants  led  her  to  her  cushion,  where  she  stood  a  little 
while,  when  out  came  an  aunt  of  the  groom,  richly  dressed,  with 
the  rod  of  a  Chinese  steel-yard  in  her  hand.  "With  this  she  tap- 
ped the  bride  lightly  on  the  head,  and  then  took  off  the  square  cap 
which  covered  her  head.  The  bride,  however,  had  another  cloth 
of  the  same  kind  on  her  head,  which  still  kept  her  face  concealed. 
At  this  stage  of  the  ceremonies,  out  stepped  the  groorn.  and  took 
his  place  beside  the  bride,  on  her  right,  and  then  commenced  the 

ceremony  of  Pae  tang,  worshipping  in  the  hall When  this 

worshipping  was  finished,  the  bride's  attendants  spread  five  rice 
bags  on  the  ground,  expressive  of  the  wish,  that  for  five  genera- 
tions there  might  be  no  lack  of  rice  in  the  family.  The  groom 
stepped  in  front  of  the  bride,  and  one  of  her  attendants  took  up 
the  skirt  of  his  outer  robe,  and  put  it  in  the  bride's  hand,  and 
they  walked  slowly  and  in  state  over  the  rice  bags,  to  the  bride's 
chamber,  the  bride  supported  by  tho  two  attendants  all  the  way. 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  403 

Here  the  covering  was  taken  off  her  face,  and  for  the  first  time 
the  groom  saw  his  wife.  The  groom  did  not  remain  long,  but 
came  out  and  sat  down  among  the  guests  ;  and  in  about  half  an 
hour,  the  bride  came  out  in  another  dress,  with  her  head  covered 
with  an  ornamental  head-dress,  and  strings  of  beads  hanging 
down  on  all  sides She  was  then  supported  to  the  reception- 
room,  and  the  attendants  held  back  the  strings  of  beads,  to  give 
the  guests  an  opportunity  of  looking  at  her.  While  this  was 
done,  she  shut  her  eyes,  and  then  went  into  her  own  apartment ; 
whereupon,  after  staying  a  short  time  longer,  we  came  away, 
leaving  the  native  guests  to  feast  on  the  dishes.  We  were  most 
earnestly  invited  to  remain  and  partake  of  the  feast ;  but  as  we 
could  not  eat  of  the  feast  spread,  which  we  knew  was  "offered  in 
sacrifice,"  and  as  we  feared  we  would  only  be  an  unpleasant  re- 
straint on  the  company,  if  we  had  another  table  spread  for  our- 
selves, we  came  away. 

All  those  who  come  to  the  wedding  are  expected  to  bring  a 
present;  and  a  book  is  kept  to  record  the  names  of  the  donors,  and 
things  presented.  A  common  present  is  two  hundred  cash,  wrap- 
ped up  in  red  paper.  Those  who  send  any  present  are  entitled  to 
receive  a  card. 

Nov.  4th.'  Walking  along  the  wall  on  my  way  home  this  even- 
ing, I  found  one  of  the  guard-houses,  which  is  at  present  inhab- 
ited by  a  man  who  has  often  asked  me  to  stop :  so,  having  a  little 
time,  I  sat  down,  and  had  some  little  conversation  with  him.  .... 
He  and  his  wife  are  allowed  to  live  in  this  house  by  the  officers, 
on  condition  that  they  watch  to  see  that  the  stones  of  the  city-wall 
are  not  carried  away  by  thieves.  The  man  is  about  thirty-nine 
years  .old,  and  his  wife  is  forty- two  ;  has  no  sons,  but  two  daugh- 
ters, who  are  married  to  people  in  the  city.  He  makes  his  living 
by  peddling  fruits  about  the  streets  ;  says  he  goes  to  the  stores 
and  buys  a  quantity,  which  he  retails  at  a  small  profit.  Sells 
about  1000  cash'  worth  a  day,  and  makes  about  100,  equal  to 
seven  cents  and  a  half,  on  which  he  and  his  wife  live ;  says  it  is 
scarcely  enough  even  to  provide  them  food,  while  there  are  so 
many  thieves  in  his  neighborhood,  that  he  can  keep  nothing  in 
his  house.  He  was  very  polite,  and  urged  me  to  go  and  see  a 
great  procession  to  be  held  to-morrow.  This  brought  on  a  con- 
versation about  idolatry,  and  the  worship  of  the  true  God,  and  I 
told  him  of  God  and  of  Christ.  He  professed  to  approve  highly 
of  what  I  said  ;  and  his  wife  coming  back  just  then,  he  repeated 
to  her  a  part  of  what  I  had  told  him,  and  both,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  pronounced  it  very  good. 

November  8th.  A  rather  pleasant  day.  People  seemed  slow  in 
coming  into  chapel ;  and  as  several  went  out  before  I  began 
speaking,  1  thought  it  best  to  try  and  secure  the  rest,  some  four  or 
five,  so  I  sat  down  and  commenced.  Had  uttered  but  a  few  sen- 
tences, Avhen  others,  finding  there  was  talking  going  on,  came  in; 
and  I  soon  had  to  stand  up  and  address  them.  Presently  I  had 


404  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

some  thirty  persons,  to  whom  I  talked  for  twenty  minutes,  but  not 
very  fluently,  nor  satisfactorily ;  and  then,  after  prayer,  gave  notice 
that  I  would  preach  on  the  next  Sabbath,  and  most  of  them  went 
away.  Gave  tracts  to  a  few,  and  some  more  passers-by  came  in  ; 
gave  away  more  tracts,  and  more  came  in.  Had  some  talk  with 
a  Mr.  Fang,  the  most  respectable-looking  man  I  have  seen  in 
Ningpo.  He  complained  that  the  style  of  our  tracts  is  too  low 
and  mean,  but  seemed  pleased  with  the  "  Character  of  the  true 
God."  One  man  came  in,  and  asked  if  the  talking  was  over?  I 
said  yes.  He  expressed  great  sorrow,  or  rather  regret,  and  then 
said,  "  Well,  since  I  can't  hear  you  talk,  won't  you  give  me  a 
book  ?"  Of  course  I  gave  him  one.  I  then  talked  some  on  the 
folly  of  idolatry,  with  very  good  attention,  after  which  Mr.  Fang 
and  others  went  away.  Mr.  Fang  gave  up  most  of  their  idols,  but 
insisted  that  if  the  local  gods  were  not  worshipped,  men  would 
get  sick.  Told  him  I  did  not  worship  them,  and  yet  I  was  not 
sick.  "  Oh,  you  are  a  foreigner,"  said  somebody  on  one  side. 
Finding  that  more  people  were  there,  I  commenced  and  talked 
my  sermon,  the  birth  and  preaching  of  John,  over  again,  to  about 
forty  persons  ;  got  along  rather  better  than  the  first  time.  Thus 
altogether,  I  have  been  enabled  to  give  some  fragments  of  truth 
to  about  one  hundred  persons,  and  to  distribute,  and  I4ope  pretty 
advantageously,  some  forty  tracts.  Oh  God,  add  thy  blessing ! 
Afterwards,  Ching  Seensang,  a  native  convert,  assistant  to  Dr.  Mac- 
gowan,  brought  a  couple  of  friends,  whom  he  described  as  inquirers, 
to  ask  for  an  explanation  of  "no  man  after  drinking  old  wine,  &c." 
I  gave  them  a  copy  of  my  Commentary  on  Luke  as  far  as  printed, 
and  had  some  little  conversation  with  them.  One  of  them  re- 
marked, that  a  man  could  get  over  everything  but  giving  up  the 
worship  of  ancestors ;  but  it  was  a  hard  thing  to  be  a  Christian, 
because  they  must  worship  ancestors.  Here  was  forcibly  shown 
the  deficiency  of  this  language,  to  express  our  religious  ideas.  The 
same  word  is  used  both  to  worship  the  gods,  and  to  pay  respect  to 
men.  And  a  person  disposed  to  do  so,  might  easily  say,  that 
when  he  worships  ancestors,  he  does  it  only  in  the  latter  sense. 
It  is  certain,  however,  that  it  is  done  in  the  former ;  but  it  is  very 
inconvenient  to  have  no  exclusive  terms  for  the  worship  of  God. 
He  said  they  did  not  pay  much  veneration  to  ancestors  above  the 
degree  of  grandfather's  grandfather. 

November  15th.  In  the  afternoon  I  preached  on  the  miracles  of 
Christ,  to  a  small,  fluctuating,  and  disorderly  congregation.  I  was 
greatly  interrupted  by  their  talking,  and'especially  by  a  crowd  of 
boys,  who  came  in,  and  behaved  without  manners.  Spoke  with 
more  fluency  and  satisfaction  to  myself  than  I  have  yet  done  ; 
but  it  seems  like  speaking  to  the  wind  and  waves,  or  writing  one's 
name  on  the  sand.  Spirit  of  God,  breathe  on  these  dry  bones  ! 

November  22d.  Preached  in  the  afternoon  twice,  on  the  death 
of  Christ.  Commenced  with  three  or  four  persons,  but  more 
dropped  in  till  there  were  twenty  or  thirty,  by  the  middle  of  the 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  405 

discourse.  Some  were  very  attentive.  So  many  kept  coming  in, 
that  after  the  first  company  were  gone,  I  preached  the  same  dis- 
course over  a  second  time,  and  had  some  forty  or  fifty  at  the  close. 
Generally  pretty  good  attention,  but  I  was  excessively  fatigued. 
An  hour's  almost  constant  talking  in  a  strange  language,  and  to  an 
audience  where  there  are  always  some  unruly  ones,  is  no  easy  work. 
Some  come  in  and  go  out ;  some  make  remarks ;  one  or  two  smoked 
pipes ;  and  one  or  two  were  rude  enough  to  make  remarks  in  a  very 
loud  voice  as  they  went  out,  apparently  for  the  purpose  of  showing 
how  little  they  cared  for  what  was  going  on.  I  have  not  yet 
learned  to  talk  at  ease  amidst  all  the  interruptions  which  I  foresee 
I  must  expect  in  this  work  ;  but  give  me  such  a  day  as  this — I 
mean  in  regard  to  numbers  and  attention — and  for  a  while  at 
least,  I  shall  rejoice.  Yet  to  many  of  the  hearers,  all  they  hear 
must  be  the  merest  scraps  ;  something,  to  allude  to  Amos,  like  the 
"  two  legs,  or  a  piece  of  an  ear,"  which  others,  more  eager  for  some- 
thing, have  sometimes  got.  Well,  "faith  cometh  by  hearing  ;"  and 
I  do  rejoice,  that,  however  imperfectly,  I  can  yet  give  some  of  this 
people  the  opportunity  of  hearing.  Oh  for  the  living  Spirit  to 
breathe  on  the  dry  bones,  and  bless  the  Word. 

November  29th.  Weather  quite  cold  of  late  at  night,  and  ther- 
mometer twice  down  to  34°  before  sunrise,  but  a  clear  day  to-day, 
and  it  gotHip  to  66°  ;  very  pleasant. 

Preached  in  the  afternoon  twice,  on  the  resurrection  and  as- 
cension of  Christ,  with  pretty  good  attention  both  times.  One 
man,  who  came  too  late  for  the  first  service,  said,  "  I  don't  care 
about  books,  but  I  want  to  hear  you  talk."  Yet  there  was  more 
eagerness  for  the  books  than  I  have  often  seen.  How  delightful 
to  be  able  to  speak  with  any  fluency.  There  wore  some  old 
men  there,  tottering  on  the  brink  of  the  grave ;  will  the  seed 
thus  sown  ever  spring  up  ? 

When  I  was  in  Macao,  my  great  anxiety  was  to  get  here  ; 
arrived  here,  and  was  satisfied  for  a  short  time  ;  but  then  became 
anxious  to  be  able  to  talk,  and  thought  I  would  be  satisfied  if  I 
could  only  talk  ;  can  talk  a  little,  and  for  a  while  was  almost  sat- 
isfied ;  but  now  I  want  to  see  fruit.  Perhaps  if  permitted  to  see 
it,  I  may  be  anxious  to  see  it  ripen  ;  if  it  ripens,  to  see  it  safely 
stored  away.  When  shall  I  be  freed  from  anxiety  ?  When  but 
in  heaven  ?  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly.  I  shall  be  satisfied 
when  I  see  thee,  or  awake  in  thy  likeness. 

December  6th.  Preached  on  the  divinity  of  Christ,  with  a  good 
deal  of  satisfaction  to  two  different  audiences ;  the  second  very 
full  and  generally  very  attentive,  and  very  eager  for  tracts. 

December  13th.  Had  the  emptyings  of  a  theatre  to  fill  my 
house,  which  it  did  to  overflowing.  It  gave  me  a  larger  audience 
than  usual ;  but  those  in  the  back  seats  were  so  incommoded  by 
the  crowd,  that  they  could  have  heard  but  little.  Preached  on 
the  Creation.  One  man  seemed  greatly  struck  by  the  account 
of  the  institution  of  the  Sabbath  ;  and  another,  by  a  comparison 


406  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

of  the  sun  to  a  candle.  Would  he  thank  the  candle,  or  the  man 
who  gave  him  the  candle?  "A  true  remark,"  he  exclaimed  very 
earnestly.  The  crowd  not  being  very  orderly,  I  gave  away  no 
books ;  and  having  preached  twice  already  in  English,  I  did  not 
feel  like  adding  a  second  Chinese  service,  as  I  should  have  been 
glad  to  have  done  in  ordinary  circumstances. 

December  20th.  Preached  on  the  Fall  of  Man ;  but  not  very 
satisfactorily ;  several  of  the  hearers  looked  as  if  they  thought,  I 
•was  talking  great  nonsense. 

December  27th.  Preached  on  the  Flood ;  audience  small,  but 
tolerably  attentive ;  labored  a  good  deal  in  the  discourse,  and 
stumbled  over  it,  not  very  fluently.  Find  myself  advancing  some- 
what in  command  of  the  language,  but  still  find  it  a  hard  thing 
to  "  speak  in  another  tongue." 

We  have  had  much  fine  weather  this  winter,  and  as  yet  scarcely 
any  ice.  Only  one  unpleasant  Sabbath  since  October  4th,  so  that 
I  have  been  much  favored  in  my  poor  accommodations  for  my 
audiences.  In  cold  weather,  I  could  scarcely  have  a  service  ;  but 
hitherto,  the  Sundays  have  been  delightful. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

1847. 

MISSIONARY  LABORS  AT  NINGPO — VOYAGE  TO  SHANGHAI  —  MANCHU  LANGUAGE- 
CHINESE  TRANSLATION  OF  THE  BIBLE — IMPORTANCE  OF  SELECTING  PROPER 
TERMS.  ^ 

UNTIL  the  latter  end  of  May,  Mr.  Lowrie  continued  his  regular 
Chinese  services  on  the  Sabbath  ;  and  during  the  week  he  found 
many  opportunities  of  making  known  the  truths  of  the  Christian 
system.  A  portion  of  each  day  was  given,  with  increased  interest, 
to  the  preparation  of  his  Chinese  dictionary,  his  plan  enlarging  as 
he  advanced  with  the  work. 

Having  been  appointed  one  of  the  delegates  for  the  revision  of 
the  translation  of  the  Bible,  he  reached  Shanghai  early  in  June  ; 
and  when  his  colleagues  assembled,  he  took  part  with  them  in  this 
important  work.  Much  time  was  taken  up  in  deciding  on  the 
proper  Chinese  word  to  be  used  for  the  Elohim  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment, and  the  Theos  of  the  New.  This  question  he  had  carefully 
examined  before  the  meeting  of  the  delegates,  and  his  further  re- 
searches led  him  very  clearly  to  prefer  the  Chinese  word  Shin. 
It  was  his  firm  conviction,  that  to  use  the  Chinese  Shang-te,  or 
the  word  Te,  for  the  true  God,  was  only  to  confirm  the  Chinese 
in  their  idolatry. 

Among  his  last  letters  is  one  to  his  father,  expressing  his  inten- 
tion of  studying  the  language  of  the  Manchu  Tartars,  and  request- 
ing that  the  necessary  books  might  be  procured  and  forwarded. 
He  did  not  overrate  the  advantages  which  a  knowledge  of  this 
language  would  afford  to  the  missionary  cause ;  and  it  will  be  for 
those  still  laboring  for  the  evangelization  of  this  great  people,  to 
carry  out  this  and  other  important  measures  of  usefulness  which 
he  left  unfinished. 

The  essay  on  the  trials  and  discouragements  of  the  foreign  mis- 
sionary, preceded  by  a  note  from  his  friend  Mr.  Culbertson,  closes  the 
present  selection  from  his  writings.  Although  some  of  the  senti- 


408  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

ments  are  expressed  in  his  previous  letters  and  journals,  it  was 
deemed  best  to  publish  this  paper  entire.  His  trials  and  sorrows 
were  soon  to  cease.  The  work  assigned  to  him  by  the  Head  of 
the  Church  was  all  finished.  On  the  19th  of  August,  he  was 
called,  as  we  trust,  to  exchange  this  scene  of  conflict  and  of  trial 
for  the  joy  of  his  Lord.  The  particulars  of  this  mysterious  and 
distressing  dispensation  of  Divine  Providence, — the  estimate  of 
his  character  by  those  who  knew  him  well, — and  the  expression 
of  deep  affliction  caused  by  his  death,  will  be  given  by  other  pens 
in  the  succeeding  chapter.  Whilst  his  relatives  and  friends  bow 
in  humble  submission  to  the  will  of  God,  and  whilst  they  know 
most  assuredly  that  nothing  happens  by  chance  in  the  govern- 
ment of  Him  who  has  all  power  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  the  stroke 
is  so  severe,  the  wound  so  deep,  and  so  many  endeared  ties  have 
been  broken  asunder,  that  they  cannot  but  mourn  and  weep  over  the 
early  grave  of  this  beloved  missionary.  He  who  wept  at  the  grave 
of  Lazarus,  does  not  forbid  the  hallowed  tears  of  his  bereaved  and 
afflicted  servants. 


Ningpo,  January  18th,  1847. 
REV.  JOHN  C.  LOWRIE — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : — I  do  not  know  that  I  have  anything  of 
consequence  to  write  at  present.  Everything  moves  on  quietly. 
....  I  find  myself  now  making  perceptible  progress  in  reading 
and  speaking,  and  begin  at  last  to  feel  as  if  I  had  mastered  the 
chief  difficulties  in  the  outset  of  this  hard  language.  You  will,  I 
trust,  join  with  me  in  gratitude  for  this.  Mind,  I  do  not  consider 
myself  a  scholar,  or  anticipate  no  further  difficulties,  for  I  can  see 
enough  to  know  that  it  is  a  rough  and  stony  path  yet,  and  up  hill 
too.  I  do  not  despair,  however,  if  life,  and  health,  and  grace  be 
given,  to  make  at  least  very  respectable  acquisitions  in  the  lan- 
guage. One  of  the  greatest  difficulties  I  meet  now,  is  a  tempta- 
tion to  devote  myself  too  much  to  the  merely  literary  part  of  the 
work.  For  I  find  I  have  made  such  progress  as,  notwithstanding 
all  the  difficulties,  to  find  real  pleasure  in  the  study ;  and  withal, 
there  is  a  field  of  investigation  and  thought,  of  philosophy  and  of 
poetry  in  the  language,  which  is  well  worthy  of  cultivation.  Do 
not  smile  at  this.  Notwithstanding  the  witty  articles  of  the  Re- 
pertory, the  Chinese  are  no  fools,  and  they  have  said  and  done 
things  worthy  of  great  renown.  I  begin  to  have  a  real  veneration 
for  Confucius,  and  to  doubt  whether  any  heathen  philosopher  ever 
saw  so  much  truth  as  he  did  ;  while  my  tastes  are  becoming  so 
Chinese,  that  I.  find  eloquence  and  poetry,  and  what  not,  in  multi- 
tudes of  forms.  You  may  laugh  as  much  as  you  please  at  my 
tastes,  but  let  those  laugh  that  win.  However,  seriously,  I  do  feel 


LETTERS.  409 

that  there  is  danger  of  attending  to  merely  literary  pursuits,  to  the 
neglect  of  the  far  more  important  duties  of  one  whose  chief  busi- 
ness it  should  be  to  know  nothing  but  Christ,  and  him  crucified. 
Pray  for  me. 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  January  23d,  1847. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

I  had  meant  to  write  to  you  pretty  fully  on  the  19th,  being  the 
anniversary  of  my  departure  from  home  five  years  ago ;  but  then 
and  since  1  have  been  so  engaged,  that  it  has  been  quite  out  of 
my  power,  and  I  can  only  scribble  off  a  few  lines  this  evening. 
My  health  is  very  good,  but  I  find  myself  obliged  to  relax  a  little 
in  my  studies  for  fear  of  injuring  my  eyes,  which  gave  me  some 
symptoms  of  failing  a  few  days  ago  that  quite  alarmed  me.  They 
are,  however,  nearly  well  now,  and  I  hope  will  not  suffer.  Your 
letter  of  August  28th,  and  the  list  of  characters  sent  by  Mr.  Sword, 

came  duly  to  hand  January  9th We  shall  endeavor  to  send 

the  list  of  characters  back  as  soon  as  possible;  it  will  require  a 
good  many  additions.  I  observe,  too,  several  crossed  out  of  the 
printed  list,  and  inserted  in  the  manuscript,  which  I  suppose  must 
be  an  error  in  copying.  I  am  sorry  you  have  struck  out  so  many 
of  the  primitives.  Would  it  not  be  worth  while  to  try  and  get  a 
font  of  the  primitives  for  printing  notes?  I  doubt  whether  the 
plan  of  printing  extensively  with  the  primitives  of  the  Paris  type 
can  be  carried  into  effect,  on  account  of  the  too  great  contraction 
of  many  of  the  characters  ;  but  this  will  not  apply  to  the  primitives 
of  the  Berlin  font.  Hence  I  would  advise  that  as  many  of  them 
be  procured  as  possible.  I  made  some  progress,  some  time  ago,  in 
making  out  a  list  of  primitives  and  characters  for  such  an  addi- 
tional font,  but  did  not  complete  it ;  and  with  what  I  have  on  hand 
now,  and  the  necessity  of  sparing  my  eyes,  or  at  least  not  taxing 
them  any  more,  I  would  not  like  at  present  to  undertake  to  finish 
it.  Probably,  too,  it  is  better  to  get  the  whole  font  first,  and-  see 
about  the  additional  font  afterwards ;  but  it  might  be  well  enough 
to  keep  it  in  view,  and  see  whether  Mr.  Byerhaus  will  undertake  it. 

I  have  nearly  finished  collecting  the  meaning  of  the  different 
words  in  Mencius,  in  pursuance  of  my  scheme  of  a  Dictionary  of 
the  Four  Books,  and  hope  to  be  through  with  Mencius  next  week. 
Thus  far  I  have  got  meanings  to  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-eight 
separate  characters,  and  have  noted  many  meanings  to  different 
words,  of  which  Morrison's  Dictionary  takes  no  notice,  and  some 
meanings  which  I  have  not  met  in  any  dictionary.  I  think  I  have  got 

the  correct  meaning  of  the  word  ^^  Taou,  which  has  bothered 
me  very  often,  and  of  which  I  have  been  able  to  find  no  satisfac- 
tion in  any  of  the  Lexicons.  Its  primary  meaning  seems  to  be  a 


410  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

road,  but  its  meaning  as  used  ethically,  which  is  its  common  and 
most  important  one,  I  take  to  be  Anthropology, — excuse  the  word, 
it  comes  the  nearest  to  express  the  idea.  In  Christianity,  the  most 
important  science  is  0£oAoj't«,  the  science  or  word  that  treats  of 
God.  Confuciusism  keeps  God  at  a  distance,  (King  k\vei  shin  urh 
yuen  che,  as  Confucius  says,)  and  makes  a  God  of  man  ;  hence  the 
most  important  object  of  knowledge  in  this  system  is  ^f  Taou,  or 
Avdpanoloyia^  the  science  or  word  that  treats  of  man.  I  got  this  idea 
from  a  passage  in  Mencius,  which  I  was  studying  yesterday,  "  Jin 
yay  chay,  jin  yay,  ho.  urh  che  Taou  yay,"  "  This  humanity  is 
man,  uniting  both  in  one  description,  it  is  Anthropology."  The 
note  on  this  passage  is.  "  Humanity  is  the  principle  which  consti- 
tutes man  a  man  ;  man  without  humanity  is  a  mere  lump  of  flesh 
and  blood.  Humanity  without  man  is  a  mere  abstraction ;  but 
humanity  and  man  together  constitute  a  perfect  man,  and  are  de- 
scribed by  Taou,  Anthropology."  I  have  not  had  time  to  investi- 
gate how  this  new  signification  will  correspond  with  the  use  of 
the  word  in  other  places,  nor  do  I  know  whether  you  care  much 
about  such  morsels  of  philology.  They  are  dry  enough  to  most 
persons,  but  thinking  it  might  possibly  interest  you,  I  throw  it  in 
here. 

I  take  a  good  deal  of  interest  in  this  work,  because,  whether  1 
ever  finish  it  or  not,  or,  if  finished,  whether  it  is  ever  published  or 
not,  I  find  it  is  giving  me  a  considerable  insight  into  the  genius 
and  correct  meaning  of  the  language,  and  I  find  it  time  well  spent. 
But  it  requires  some  care  and  self-denial,  lest,  by  attending  too 
closely  to  it,  I  injure  my  eyes  and  health,  and  neglect  more  im- 
portant duties.  I  find  myself  improving  some  in  the  ability  to 
prepare  and  deliver  my  weekly  discourses  in  Chinese,  arid  hope 
ere  long  to  be  able  to  increase  the  number  of  my  services.  But 
oh,  for  the  Spirit's  influences  !  I  had  a  long  talk  with  a  young 
man  this  afternoon,  as  we  were  walking  along  the  road,  but  it 
was  like  beating  a  bag  of  wool.  He  assented  to  everything,  and 
probably  forgot  everything  before  I  was  out  of  sight. 

....  I  must  close  now.  My  letter  is  not  half  so  long  as  I  feel 
like  writing  it,  but  it  is  Saturday  night,  and  I  must  prepare  for 
the  Sabbath.  That  every  blessing  may  rest  on  you,  and  all  our 
beloved  family,  is  the  daily  prayer  of 

Your  affectionate  son,  W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  January  25th,  1847. 
REV.  LEVI  JANVIER — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  JANVIER  : — Your  very  acceptable  letter 
of  September  19th,  reached  me  on  the  9th  inst.  I  could  have 
wished  it  had  been  longer,  for  though  it  was  really  "  multum  in 
parvo,"  yet  about  letters  I  often  feel  like  one  of  the  charity  boys  in 
Oliver  Twist,  "  Please,  sir,  I  want  some  more." 


LETTERS.  411 

I  sympathize  with  you  sincerely  in  your  repeated  bereavements ; 
but  how  much  nearer  heaven  you  must  feel  with  such  messengers 
sent  before  you.  It  will  not  be  long.  It  often  seems  to  me  as  if 
few  persons  could  have  such  anticipations  of  the  bliss  of  heaven, 
as  we  missionaries  ought  to  have  ;  for  living  in  so  much  solitude, 
or  rather  in  a  society  more  lonely  than  solitude,  how  ought  we 
to  rejoice  in  the  anticipation  of  that  home  where  we  shall  rejoin 
the  friends  we  have  lost,  and  mingle  with  the  spirits  we  love  for- 
ever and  ever.  I  feel  more  and  more  the  loneliness  of  missionary 
life  to  be  one  of  its  greatest  trials.  I  suppose  being  single  makes 
me  feel  it  still  more,  but  the  idea  of  walking  day  after  day,  for 
years  together,  in  crowded  streets,  without  meeting  among  all  the 
people  any  who  care  for  Jesus,  or  of  looking  out  over  crowded 
graves,  and  being  obliged  to  say,  "none  of  these  will  rise  to  glory," 
is  a  very  desolating  reflection. 

1  am  a  good  deal  encouraged  of  late  in  my  work,  from  having 
at  last  got  my  mouth  opened.  You  know  I  am  rather  a  slow 
speaker,  and  for  a  while  I  feared  I  never  would  learn  this  dreadful 
language.  This  was  increased  a  good  deal  by  finding  some  of 
my  brethren  who  came  out  after  me,  outstripping  me  in  learning 
to  talk.  To  be  sure  1  had  peculiar  difficulties  to  contend  with  ; 
but  still  it  was  very  discouraging  after  being  nearly  four  years  in 
China,  to  find  myself  so  poor  a  talker.  However,  I  have  now 
been  preaching  regularly  for  several  months,  and  find  myself  im- 
proving rapidly.  I  see  no  reason  why,  in  ordinary  cases,  a  per- 
son may  not  speak  pretty  fluently  in  two  years.  It  is  different  with 
regard  to  the  written  language,  and  after  five  years'  labor,  one  is 
little  better  than  a  beginner. 

We  have,  on  the  whole,  a  delightful  climate  here.  A  heavy 
fall  of  snow  last  night  made  everything  look  homelike,  but  it  all 
melted  away  during  the  day. 

There  is  now  a  good  deal  of  preaching  going  on  here.  We  are 
all  more  or  less  engaged  in  it,  except  Brother  Way,  whose  time  is 
very  profitably  employed  in  the  school.  I  should  do  a  good  deal 
more  than  I  do,  did  I  not  feel  it  a  duty  to  endeavor  to  master  the 
written  language,  which  is  not  to  be  done  in  a  day,  or  a  year 
either  ;  but  if  life  and  health  be  spared,  I  hope  to  accomplish  it  in 
due  time.  Our  congregations,  however,  are  not  large,  and  they 
fluctuate  a  great  deal.  The  attendance  varies  from  five  to  fifty, 
and  I  seldom  see  the  same  faces  more  than  two  or  three  times. 
It  is  seed  sown  by  the  wayside,  literally  and  spiritually  ;  for  my 
house  is  on  a  thoroughfare,  "  and  those  who  go  right  on  in  their 
ways,"  "  turn  in  hither,"  to  hear  this  new  doctrine.  At  present  it 
is  curiosity.  I  suppose  by  and  by  curiosity  will  give  way  to  indif- 
ference ;  then  indifference  to  contempt ;  and  then  to  open  opposi- 
tion, before  we  see  much  fruit.  Oh,  for  faith  and  patience  !  I  judge 
from  some  of  your  letters  which  I  have  seen,  that  you  know  both 
"  hope  deferred  that  maketh  the  heart  sick,"  and  deep  discourage- 
ment at  apparently  unsuccessful  labor.  I  have  some  experience 


412  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

of  both  ;  but  it  is  a  blessed  thing  to  know  that  if  faithful  "  we  are 
a  sweet  savor  in  them  that  are  saved,  and  in  them  that  are  lost." 
Yet  it  is  a  melancholy  thought  that  our  coming  here  is  likely  to 
be  the  occasion  of  aggravated  condemnation  to  many  more  than 
we  shall  probably  benefit  by  our  labors.  It  is  in  a  small  degree 
true  of  us,  as  of  our  Master,  "  if  we  had  not  come  and  spoken  to 
them  they  had  not  had  sin,  but  now  they  have  no  cloak  for  their 
sin."  However,  we  should  not  escape  from  this  reflection  by  stay- 
ing at  home  ;  for  doubtless  every  clergyman  may  say  the  same. 
Even  Paul  was  no  exception,  for  he  preached  in  Ephesus  until 
"  all  that  were  in  Asia  heard  the  word,"  and  yet  how  few  were 
saved  !  You  have  doubtless  thought  all  this  before  now. 

I  am  very  anxious  to  know  what  term  you  use  for  GOD.  Is  it 
a  name  of  any  one  heathen  god  ;  or  the  genuine  name  for  God  ; 
or  is  it  a  new  term  introduced  by  missionaries?  What  is  the  San- 
scrit term  answering  to  our  word  God  ?  and  its  precise  meaning? 

With  kindest  regards  to  Mrs.  Janvier  and  your  associates,  be- 
lieve me, 

Ever  yours  in  the  Gospel  of  Christ, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ning-po,  February  19th,  1847. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

....  The  weeks  slip  by  with  a  rapidity  that  would  be  frightful, 
were  it  not  for  the  calm  and  pleasing  hope  that  they  are  wafting 
me  to  a  home  where  in  all  labor  there  is  no  sorrow.  I  can  hardly 
realize  tbat  six  weeks  of  the  present  year  are  gone  already,  but 
so  it  is.  Yesterday  too  was  my  birthday  ;  finished  twenty-eight 
years,  and  commenced  my  twenty-ninth ;  and  it  is  more  than  five 
years  since  I  saw  you  last.  You  will  ask,  what  am  I  doing  that 
makes  me  so  busy  ?  Why,  I  write  a  sermon  in  English  about 
once  a  month ;  a  sermon  in  Chinese  each  week ;  an  average  of 
two  or  three  letters  each  week,  (full  letters,  notes  not  counted ;) 
correct  two  or  three  proofs  in  Chinese  every  week,  each  proof  a 
good  hour's  work ;  and  then  to  fill  up  and  overflow  every  hour 
besides,  I  have  this  copious  unfathomable  language,  which  I  find 
I  must  study  in  winter,  and  take  easily  in  summer.  I  am,  how- 
ever, now  so  far  advanced,  as  to  find  a  great  deal  of  real  satis- 
faction in  the  study ;  and  being  thus  encouraged  by  success,  do 
not  again  apprehend  the  tedium  and  labor  which  I  found  in  it  for 
so  long  a  time.  I  can  now  read  an  ordinary  book  without  assist- 
ance from  a  teacher,  though  of  course  I  can  read  much  faster  and 
easier  with  him  by  my  side,  and  I  hope  ere  long  to  be  able  in  a 
great  measure  to  dispense  with  a  teacher  in  translating  from 
Chinese  into  English.  I  am  not  yet  begun  to  ask,  when  I  can 
do  without  one  in  translating  from  English  into  Chinese ;  that 
point  is  as  yet  many  years  off.  I  do  not  know  how  much  you 
practise  Chinese  now,  but  a  pietty  li  tie  thought  came  into  my 


LETTERS.  413 

head  a  few  days  ago ;  it  may  be  in  some  book  I  have  read,  but  I 
have  no  recollection  of  having  met  it  anywhere.  You  perhaps 
know  that  the  word  neen  means  to  think.  Now  just  divide  that 
character  in  two,  and  you  have  kin  sin,  "now  heart"  i.  e.,  what 
is  now  in  the  heart,  which  is  not  a  bad  definition  of  thoughts. 
But  perhaps  this  smells  too  much  of  the  lamp  for  you.  So,  for 
more  domestic  concerns,  I  have  lost  my  beautiful  dog  Fanny. 
She  followed  me  out  into  the  street  one  day,  and  got  to  frisking 
about,  and  got  lost  in  the  crowd.  I  should  have  felt  quite  melan- 
choly had  it  happened  a  few  months  sooner ;  but  the  fact  is, 
though  very  beautiful,  she  was  so  utterly  useless  that  I  did  not 
regret  her  going.  Instead  of  barking,  she  fawned  on  every 
stranger  that  came  in,  and  followed  everybody  that  called  her  in 
the  street.  So  it  seems  a  fair  exterior  is  no  better  proof  of  good 
qualities  in  dogs  than  in  men.  I've  got  a  little  pup  now,  who 
yelped  incessantly  when  I  got  him,  until  at  last  the  cat  took  pity 
on  him,  and  took  him  under  her  care.  This  comforted  his  heart 
very  much,  and  he  is  now  famous  for  eating  rice  and  milk,  and 
worrying  the  cat,  and  gives  promise  of  being  worth  something 
more  before  long.  I  call  him  Jim. 

Our  winter  has  been  mild,  and  is  now  pretty  much  over.  We 
have  had  both  ice  and  snow,  but  no  weather  so  cold  as  a  good 
deal  that  we  had  last  year  ;  and  as  we  all  knew  better  how  to 
prepare  for  it,  we  have  got  along  very  comfortably.  I  think  too 
we  shall  not  have  so  severe  a  summer.  .  .  . 

With  much  love  and  many  warm  thoughts, 

Ever  affectionately  yours,         W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ning-po,  March  20th,  1847. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

Your  letters  of  July  29,  September  1,  September  11-29,  and 
October  30,  all  came  the  same  day,  March  11.  Many  thanks, 
for  every  scrap  of  your  pen  is  precious  to  me ;  especially  when  I 
know  that  you  so  often  write  when  suffering  from  sickness,  or 
overwhelmed  with  business.  I  would  like  to  hear  from  you 
much  oftener,  and  much  more  fully ;  but  situated  as  you  are,  I 
am  only  too  glad  to  hear  as  much  and  as  often  as  I  do. 

The  letter  you  speak  of  sending  by  the  Grafton  has  somehow 
been  mislaid.  I  am  greatly  delighted  with  the  articles  in  my 
boxes,  rat  traps,  cravats,  &c.,  papers  and  books,  especially  the 
Alexander  on  Isaiah  and  Princeton  Repertory  Essays,  and  with 
Kitto's  Biblical  Cyclopaedia.  My  own  Encyclopaedia  of  Religious 
Knowledge  was  so  much  injured  among  many  other  books,  com- 
ing from  Macao  here,  that  1  could  scarcely  use  it.  I  have  Donne- 
gan's  Greek  Lexicon,  but  it  has  lost  its  cover,  and  the  leaves  are 
all  coming  apart,  and  besides  it  is  much  stained  and  spoiled,  so  I 
would  much  like  a  new  one,  especially  as  I  see  a  new  one,  based 
on  the  Greek  Lexicon  of  Passow,  advertised  in  the  papers.  .  .  . 


414  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.   LOWRIE. 

I  have  looked  over  the  notes  on  Millenarianism,  but  I  hardly 
know  what  to  say  about  them.  I  do  not  know  how  much  you 
wish  me  to  write  on  the  subject,  and  I  have  never  felt  that  it  was 
a  subject  on  which  I  was  called  either  to  go  about  making 
proselytes,  or  giving  my  views  where  they  were  not  desired.  .  .  . 

I  am  aware  that  the  presumption  is  against  me,  from  the  fact 
that  I  hold  views  so  different  from  the  majority  of  good  and  wise 
men.  I  am  sorry  that  it  is  so,  and  I  recognize  in  it  a  duty  im- 
plied, that  I  should  hold  my  own  views  with  modesty,  and  keep 
myself  open  to  conviction. 

When  I  first  embraced  these  views,  they  were  novel  and  ex- 
citing, and  perhaps  I  spoke  warmly  ;  I  trust  I  did  not  write  or  speak 
dictatorially  ;  if  I  did,  I  am  sorry  for  it  now.  The  novelty  is  worn 
off.  I  do  not  feel  any  excitement  on  the  subject ;  but  I  find  my- 
self resting  calmly  and  satisfactorily  in  them,  and  I  trust  I  feel 
benefits  resulting  from  them.  There  are  many  things  about  them 
that  I  do  not  profess  to  understand,  and  many  things  that  I  do 
not  see  clearly.  But  I  suppose  that  many  persons  under  the 
Levitical  dispensation,  who  firmly  believed  in  the  first  advent  of 
our  Lord,  might  have  said  the  same.  Yet  their  ignorance  or 
inability  to  say  how  certain  things  in  the  Levitical  law  could  be 
made  to  harmonize  with  the  administration  of  a  new  dispensa- 
tion, was  no  proof  that  He  would  not  come. 

I  am  distressed  at  some  remarks  you  have  made,  implying  that 
Millenarians  think  but  lightly  of  the  office  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  or 
rather  that  you  think  the  tendency  of  their  views  is  to  bring  the 
importance  of  his  work  into  question.  I  do  not  see  what  ground 
there  is  for  this.  Millenarians  do  not  call  in  question  the  indis- 
pensable necessity  of  the  Spirit's  influences.  As  far  as  I  can  see, 
which  certainly  is  not  far,  a  new  dispensation,  which  I  think  is 
clearly  implied,  may  just  as  much  exalt  the  Spirit's  work,  as  the 
Christian  dispensation  exalted  the  Saviour's  work.  .  .  . 

Ningpo,  as  yet,  has  no  prospect  whatever  of  trade.  There  has 
been  less  the  past  year  than  the  year  before,  and  it  will  in  all 
probability  be  several  years  before  any  business  is  done  here. 
We  do  not  regret  this,  as  we  now  get  our  funds  and  papers  with 
tolerable  ease,  though  with  some  delay.  Our  quietness  and  seclu- 
sion from  the  intercourse  of  ships  is  a  great  blessing,  notwithstand- 
ing its  temporal  disadvantages 

I  am  sorry  to  hear  of  the  trials  in  the  mission  to  Africa,  but  I 
trust  there  will  be  no  talk  of  abandoning  it.  How  often  it  is  the 
case,  that  the  greatest  troubles  and  discouragements  precede  the 
reviving  tokens  of  God's  presence !  It  may  be  so  in  Africa.  I 
do  not  mean  that  you  are  likely  to  talk  of  giving  up  the  African 
mission,  but  I  saw  in  the  Chronicle  some  notice  of  the  mission- 
aries there  having  told  the  people,  that  "the  continuance  of  the 
mission  depended  much  on  themselves." 

Now  I  will  close  off  this  letter  and  this  week  by  the  journal  of 
a  day: 


LETTERS.  415 

Rose  at  six.  Breakfast  and  prayers  before  seven  ;  at  my  Bible 
and  Chalmers  on  Romans  till  eight.  Then  corrected  a  transla- 
tion of  the  Shorter  Catechism  with  my  teacher  till  half-past  nine. 
I  first  write  it  in  as  good  Chinese  as  I  can,  and  then  copy  it  off, 
and  correct,  it  two  or  three  times,  till  I  am  pretty  sure  it  gives  the 
idea,  and  then  talk  it  over  with  the  teacher,  and  get  him  to  correct 
obscurities  and  errors  in  style ;  to-day  finished  down  to  question 
thirty-nine,  which  is  by  much  the  hardest  part.  The  Catechism 
is  so  condensed,  that  it  is  a  very  hard  thing  to  translate ;  and  it 
is  also  very  hard  to  find  equivalents  for  some  of  the  terms.  My 
teacher  was  especially  puzzled  with  the  phrase  "their  bodies  be- 
ing still  united  to  Christ,"  and  wanted  to  alter  it.  But  by  a  good 
deal  of  explanation  he  got  to  see  what  it  meant,  and  then  said 
that  I  had  expressed  it  correctly.  I  am  quite  gratified  to  find  that 
I  can  write  whole  sentences,  in  which  he  does  not  alter  a  word, 
especially  in  a  case  where  so  much  care  is  required  as  in  the 
Catechism.  After  I  get  it  finished,  it  will  probably  be  reviewed 
by  the  mission,  and  if  we  agree  on  it,  will  be  published.  But  it 
will  be  necessary  to  publish  a  Commentary  on  it ;  for  many  of  its 
clauses  and  doctrines,  even  though  correctly  expressed,  will  be 
unintelligible  without  explanation.  The  commentaries,  in  the 
form  of  short  questions  and  answers,  will  be  much  easier  than  the 
text  to  write. 

Then  studied  a  part  of  the  Four  Books,  noted  the  new  words 
in  my  "  Collections  for  a  Dictionary,"  and  translated  the  part  I 
had  gone  over  to-day.  This  kept  me  till  one  o'clock.  I  am 
nearly  through  the  Four  Books,  and  hope  to  finish  them  in  a 
month.  I  think  now  of  making  my  dictionary  to  comprise  the 
Shoo  king  and  the  Woo  king,  and  of  doing  it  pretty  thoroughly. 
This  will  require  two  or  three  years  yet ;  but  the  benefit  to  my- 
self will  repay  the  labor,  and  if  I  get  the  book  done  as  I  hope  to, 
it  will  be  a  valuable,  or  at  least,  an  important  contribution  to 
Chinese  philology.  I  have  not  as  yet  told  any  of  the  brethren 
here,  that  I  am  engaged  in  it,  for  I  want  to  be  sure  of  carrying  it 
on,  before  anything  is  said  about  it.  I  feel  very  little  doubt  now, 
that  I  can  do  it  somehow.  How  well,  remains  to  be  seen,  and  if 
I  cannot  do  it  well,  I  do  not  wish  it  to  see  the  light. 

Mr.  Quarterman  came  and  dined  with  me.  After  dinner  we 
went  to  the  Ningpo  tower,  and  then  took  a  long  walk  into  the 
country,  I  suppose  four  or  five  miles,  dttter  getting  out  about 
four  miles,' a  very  old  respectable  man  inra  boat  hailed  us,  and 
asked  where  we  were  going?  How  old?  Were  we  married?  &c. 
I  gave  him  a  couple  of  tracts,  and  as  he  seemed  anxious  to  talk, 
told  him  something  about  our  religion.  He  was  greatly  gratified 
to  meet  a  foreigner  who  could  talk  to  him  ;  and  asked  us  to  go  to 
his  house  and  drink  tea.  We  took  him  at  his  word.  So  as  we 
were  now  at  his  home,  he  got  out  of  the  boat  and  led  us  in,  and 
gave  us  tea.  A  crowd  of  men,  women,  and  children  came  to  see 
us,  I  suppose  two  or  three  hundred.  After  drinking  tea  and  chat- 


416  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

ting  a  little,  I  told  him  I  wanted  to  talk  to  the  people.  He  was 
very  much  pleased,  and  taking  me  by  the  hand,  led  me  out  to  the 
court,  and  commanded  silence.  Not  expecting  such  an  oppor- 
tunity and  such  an  audience,  I  had  not  prepared  myself,  but  was 
enabled  to  give  a  discourse  some  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  long,  on 
the  main  points  of  religion,  which  was  listened  to  quite  attentively 
by  some,  and  not  so  well  by  others.  I  then  gave  away  all  the 
tracts  I  had,  for  which  there  was  a  regular  rush,  and  we  came 
away  and  got  home  about  dark,  pretty  tired,  but  well  pleased.  I 
have  spent  the  evening  correcting  my  Chinese  sermon  for  to-mor- 
row, on  the  Fifth  Commandment,  and  in  writing  this  letter.  It  is 
now  late,  and  I  am  tired  and  am  going  to  bed.  With  much  love 
to  mother  and  all  good  friends,  believe  me  as  ever, 

Your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


ON   THE    MINUTES    OF   THE    GENERAL    ASSEMBLY    OF    1846. 

Ningpo,  March  20th,  1847. 

The  Minutes  of  our  venerable  General  Assembly,  after  being 
long  delayed  on  the  way,  have  at  last  reached  this  place,  and  are 
now  lying  before  me.  The  General  Assembly  !  How  many  pre- 
cious and  endearing  associations  are  connected  with  that  name  ! 
From  this  heathen  land  it  recalls  my  thoughts  back  to  the  land  of 
my  birth  and  early  youth ;  to  the  land  of  my  first  Christian  hopes 
and  preparation  for  the  ministry.  It  is  the  land  of  my  parents,  of 
my  brothers  and  my  sisters.  It  is  the  land  where  many  warm 
friends  dwell.  It  is  the  land  where  the  departed  sleep ;  a  land  of 
privileges  and  light !  Its  external  and  physical  advantages  are 
great;  for  it  might  be  said  as  was  said  of  Canaan  in  old  times, 
"  it  is  a  land  flowing  with  honey  and  milk,"  and  "  the  eye  of  God 
is  upon  it  from  the  beginning  of  the  year  to  the  end  of  the  year." 
It  is  a  land  of  freedom,  and  of  peace.  But  its  Christian  privileges 
are  greater  still.  It  is  a  land  of  Bibles,  and  Sabbaths,  and  preach- 
ing and  revivals.  It  has  its  Sabbath  schools  and  religious  institu- 
tions. It  has  its  missionary  and  its  Bible  societies,  to  extend  to 
other  lands  the  blessings  enjoyed  in  its  own  borders.  The  influ- 
ences of  the  Spirit,  like  currents  of  vital  air,  pervade  the  land. 
From  its  hills  and  its  v^re  go  up  the  voices  of  prayer  and  praise, 
and  the  saints  of  the  Louvre  resting  in  its  graves.  A  land  highly 
favored — its  God  is  Jehovah  !  Compare  that  land  with  this,  and 
how  painful  is  the  contrast. 

It  is  pleasant  to  think  that  the  Church,  the  minutes  of  whose 
highest  judicatory  are  now  before  me,  iny  own  loved  Church,  holds 
no  mean  place  among  those  which,  under  God,  have  made  that 
once  wilderness  land,  to  bud  and  blossom  as  the  rose.  "The 
General  Assembly  of  the  Church  !"  I  love  that  name.  How  gen- 
eral and  extensive,  stretching  far  and  wide  throughout  the  land, 


ON   THE    MINUTES    OF   THE    GENERAL    ASSEMBLY.  417 

yet  comprehending  and  assembling  all  together  in  one  brother- 
hood. How  goodly  is  the  fellowship  of  the  saints  !  The  represen- 
tatives of  the  Church  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  a  vast 
land  are  assembled  here,  and  that  not  for  any  selfish  purposes,  but 
for  the  highest  and  the  noblest  known  on  earth ;  they  are  met  to 
consult  for  the  glory  of  Christ  and  his  cause.  When  shall  we 
have  such  a  general  assembly  in  this  heathen  land?  When  shall 
all  the  earth  see  eye  to  eye,  and  have  one  General  Assembly? 
When  shall  we  all  go  up  to  the  General  Assembly,  and  Church  of 
the  first-born  on  high  ? 

It  has  been  a  deeply  interesting  employment  to  look  over  the  list 
of  ministers  in  connection  with  the  General  Assembly.  I  have 
gone  over  the  whole  list,  pencil  in  hand,  and  placed  a  mark  against 
each  name  of  those  I  knew.  I  have  looked  to  see  how  many  of 
God's  people  are  under  the  care  of  each ;  how  many  additions  to 
the  communion  of  their  churches  ;  how  many  baptisms.  I  have 
looked  farther,  to  see  how  active,  how  liberal,  how  benevolent,  the 
flock  of  each  has  been,  and  how  much  they  have  contributed  to 
spread  the  cause  of  Christ,  at  home  and  abroad.  But  let  me  recall 
that  word  "  benevolent."  With  most  persons  it  signifies  a  free 
gift,  or  a  disposition  to  give,  where  there  is  no  claim  on  the  giver. 
But  surely  it  is  no  benevolence  to  give  aught  to  Him  of  whom  we 
receive  our  all,  and  to  whom,  if  we  give  aught,  we  but  give  him 
"  of  his  own."  "All  things  come  of  Thee,  and  of  thine  own  have 
we  given  thee."  To  speak  more  properly,  I  have  looked  to  see 
how  much  each  church  of  those  I  knew,  has  realized  of  its  respon- 
sibilities and  its  stewardship,  and  what  answer  it  has  given  to  the 
question,  "  How  much  owest  thou  unto  my  lord  ?"  In  some  cases 
I  have  almost  feared  that  an  unfaithful  steward  has  been  there, 
and  in  place  of  requiring  the  full  amount,  has  said,  "  Take  thy 
bill,  and  sit  down  quickly,  and  write  fifty,  or  fourscore."  But 
charity  requires  me  to  suppose  that  the  minutes  of  the  General 
Assembly  give  only  an  imperfect  account  of  what  each  church  has 
done.  The  thought,  however,  occurs  to  me,  man  may  see  and 
record  what  we  do,  or  he  may  not,  but  there  is  One  above  who 
sees  and  records  it  all,  and  he  has  said,  "  It  is  required  in  stew- 
ards that  a  man  be  found  faithful."  See  the  whole  context, 
1  Cor.  iv.  1-5. 

I  love  to  look  over  the  roll  of  the  General  Assembly.  There  are 
many  well-known  names  there.  The  vj^fe^ble  father  in  Christ, 
the  strong  man,  the  gentle,  loving  teach^^Bends  of  my  boyhood 
were  there  :  classmates  and  friends  of  uiy  UoTlege  days  were  there  : 
beloved  associates  in  the  Theological  c&minary  were  there.  If  I 
have  numbered  aright,  there  are  ten  withjkvhom  I  met  week  after 
week  and  month  after  month,  to  hear  the  instructions  of  our  ven- 
erated professors.  With  you  I  have  sat  in  the  same  class-room, 
gone  to  the  house  of  God  in  company,  bowed  together  in  the  same 
prayer-meeting,  and  sat  down  side  by  side  at  the  same  table  of 
the  Lord.  Tears  fill  iri^  eyes,  as  with  an  overflowing  heart,  the 

27 


418  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

memory  of  those  favored  hours  comes  back ;  and  if  it  might  be 
so,  I  could  wish  for  their  return.  Ye  are  dwelling  in  the  house 
of  God,  whilst  I  sojourn  in  Mesech !  Ye  are  going  up  with  the 
great  congregation,  whilst  I  sit  in  the  tents  of  Kedar  !  Yet  will 
I  remember  thee,  oh  God,  from  the  land  of  Jordan,  and  the  Her- 
monite?,  and  from  the  hill  Mizar. 

Years  have  passed  away  since  then.  Many  billows  roll  be- 
tween us  now,  and  many  billows  have  rolled  over  us  since  then, 
yet  many  recollections  of  those  days  come  up  before  me  in  long 
array.  What  constant  friendship  did  some  of  us  vow,  when  our 
hearts  were  warmed  as  we  communed  together  by  the  way  !  And 
there  was  our  resolve  to  remember  each  other  in  our  prayers 
on  Saturday  evening.  Do  ye  remember  it  yet?  God's  blessing 
rest  on  ye  all,  friends  of  my  heart,  associates  of  my  earlier  days, 
fellow-laborers  in  the  same  church,  and  expectants  of  the  same 
crown  !  And  ye  too,  venerated  elders  of  the  churches  !  Some  of 
you  I  have  known  in  your  own  homes.  Some  of  my  earliest  and 
warmest  friends  were  among  you.  Nor  can  I  ever  forget  the  deep 
feeling  with  which  one  of  your  number,  now  gone  to  his  rest,  once 
said  to  me,  "  Ever  since  I  knew  aught  of  Christ,  it  has  been  my 
daily  prayer  that  I  might  know  more  of  him ;"  or  how  another 
of  your  number  said  on  his  death-bed,  with  an  emphasis  which 
only  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come  could  give,  "Oh  what  a 
Saviour  is  Christ !  He  is  a  rock  !"  May  the  spirit  of  those  devo- 
ted men  rest  on  you  all ! 

I  have  read  with  much  interest  the  proceedings  of  an  Assembly, 
to  which  I  am  bound  by  so  many  lies.  How  great  a  privilege  it 
would  have  been  to  have  been  even  a  doorkeeper  there  !  It  would 
be  tedious,  and  unreasonable,  to  tell  you  half  my  thoughts,  on 
reading  over  the  proceedings.  May  I  be  pardoned  for  recording 
some  of  my  thoughts,  on  reading  a  part  of  them? 

It  is  natural  for  each  one  to  feel  most  interest  in  what  most 
nearly  concerns  himself  and  his  own  immediate  pursuits.  The 
foreign  missionary  looks  with  peculiar  interest  to  the  proceedings 
of  the  Assembly  in  relation  to  Foreign  Missions.  Shall  I,  or  may 
I,  say  what  I  thought?  Perhaps  it  may  be  wrong,  or  presumptu- 
ous, or  censorious ;  if  so,  forgive  me ;  but  there  was  an  emotion 
not  unmixed  with  disappointment,  on  the  perusal  of  the  resolu- 
tions about  foreign  missions.  You  know  best  whether  so  many 
as  nine  resolutions  JMTC  necessary,  but  it  did  strike  me  that 
they  were  dull, — too  •B'  words,  and  the  sentences  too  long.  A 
person  almost  loses  n^W>reatli  before  he  reads  through  some  of 
them.  Would  it  not  haveVeen  better,  if,  with  less  of  the  charac- 
ter of  a  grave  homily.. trAre  had  been  a  more  pointed  application? 
If,  instead  of  merely  "grieving"  and  "inviting"  and  "recommend- 
ing,'' they  had  embodied  in  few  words  a  glowing  resolution  to  do, 
and  to  act  ?  But  I  will  not  criticise.  Rather  let  me  carefully 
read  them  over  again,  and  may  God's  blessing  rest  on  their  au- 
thors, and  on  him  who  reads. 


ON   THE    MINUTES    OP   THE    GENERAL    ASSEMBLY.          419 

It  is  well.  The  work  of  missions  is  important ;  the  Church 
should  unite  under  their  own  Board :  missionary  intelligence 
should  be  diffused ;  earnest  prayer  should  be  offered  ;  and  the 
Jews  should  have  an  able  and  efficient  mission.  It  is  well  that 
the  Church,  through  her  highest  judicatory,  should  give  utterance 
to  these  truths.  I  suppose  they  were  adopted  unanimously,  as  no 
notice  is  given  of  any  disapprobation  or  dissent. 

But  what  shall  be,  or  rather  what  has  been,  the  result  of  these 
resolutions?  They  are  your  public  testimony,  and  not  merely  re- 
corded in  your  official  records,  but  recorded  by  one  who  says, 
"When  thou  vowest  a  vow  unto  God,  defer  not  to  pay  it;"  and 
who  will  look  to  see  how  official  resolutions,  which  bear  the  nature 
of  a  vow,  are  performed.  You  have  gone  down  from  that  high 
position  in  the  General  Assembly,  to  your  separate  flocks.  If  you 
carry  not  out  your  own  resolutions,  surely  no  others  will.  Have 
you  then  in  your  separate  fields  carried  out  the  principles,  and 
performed  the  duties  you  have  publicly  professed?  Is  interest  in 
the  missionary  cause  deepening  among  your  own  people?  Is  mis- 
sionary intelligence  more  widely  diffused  ?  Do  your  flock  take 
more  copies  of  the  Chronicle  and  Foreign  Missionary  ?  Is  more 
prayer  offered  ?  Are  more  efforts  made  ?  Or  if  not,  are  we  to 
understand  that  you  have  already  attained  to  the  measure  of  the 
standard  fixed  in  your  resolutions,  and  need  not  to  go  beyond  it  ? 

And  how  do  your  resolutions  compare  with  those  of  the  past  or 
previous  years  ?  What  advance  has  been  made  beyond  the  stand 
taken  ten,  or  five  years  ago  ?  The  resolutions  of  the  General  As- 
sembly of  1841  were  very  good.  The  Assembly  of  1842  recom- 
mended that  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  should  be  raised  in 
that  year  ;  but  that  sum  has  never  been  raised  in  any  year  yet. 
The  resolutions  of  1844  I  have  not  yet  seen,  but  a  kind  and  cordial 
notice  of  missionary  operations,  found  a  place  in  the  narrative  of 
religion  of  that  year. 

I  fear  it  must  be  said,  that  the  resolutions  of  the  General  As- 
sembly mark  no  perceptible  advance  in  the  state  of  missionary 
feeling  in  the  Church.  There  has  been  a  slight  increase  of  pecu- 
niary contributions,  but  the  Church  has  not  yet  come  up  to  the 
standard  fixed  by  the  Assembly  of  1842,  as  then  practicable. 
Brethren,  where  is  the  fault?  Your  resolutions,  to  be  of  any 
worth,  must  be  acted  out ;  or  in  the  end^he  people  will  become 
hardened  by  them,  and  instead  of  goo^Aey  will  do  harm,  and 
"  the  rust  of  them"  will  be  a  witness  ag^^^^yourselves.  Might  I, 
with  all  humility,  suggest  that  instead  ofa  long  series  of  resolu- 
tions, a  few  sentences,  brief  and  pointed^would  be  much  better,  if 
each  one  who  voted  for  them  were  to  resolve  that,  let  others  do  as 
they  may,  he  at  least  would  carry  them  out  in  his  own  church. 
Were  this  course,  adopted,  iu  five  successive  General  Assemblies, 
nay,  in  only  two,  what  prodigious  results  would  be  secured  ! 

But  there  is  one  sentence  in  the  last  resolution,  which  calls  forth 
my  warmest  gratitude.  The  General  Assembly  of  our  Church 


420  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

solemnly  assures  us  that  your  "  daily  prayer  is  that  the  Saviour 
may  be  present  with  us,  and  that  the  blessing  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
may  rest  on  our  labors."  Oh  ye  fathers  and  brethren  !  this  one 
sentence  is  to  us  worth  more  than  thousands  of  silver  and  gold.  Let 
others  do  as  they  may,  we  are  here  assured  that  in  the  daily  pray- 
ers of  one  hundred  and  thirteen  ministers,  and  seventy-six  elders, 
we  are  remembered.  Who  would  not  rejoice  to  be  held  in  "daily" 
remembrance  by  so  many  ministers  and  elders  ?  Who  would  not 
feel  strengthened  in  his  work,  by  the  assurance  from  the  highest 
judicatory  in  the  Church,  that  at  least  all  those  who  composed 
that  body,  every  day  invoke  "  the  presence  of  the  Saviour,  and  the 
blessing  of  the  Spirit"  on  his  labors  ?  In  the  name  of  every  mis- 
sionary of  our  Church,  I  thank  you  for  that  assurance ;  for  surely 
God  will  hear  such  prayers.  May  they  be  graciously  answered  by 
Him,  in  blessings  on  our  heads,  and  may  they  return  with  tenfold 
blessings  on  your  own !  You  are  daily  praying,  and  doubtless 
daily  looking  for  an  answer  to  those  prayers.  God  is  the  hearer 
and  the  answerer  of  prayer,  and  our  hearts  are  revived  by  the 
thought.  How  glorious,  how  blessed  to  be  a  member  of  a  Church, 
so  large  as  ours,  where  such  a  bond  of  union  exists,  and  where 
those  who  occupy  the  most  conspicuous  stations,  assure  those  far- 
thest off,  and  least  known,  of  an  interest  in  their  daily  prayers.  I 
cannot  allow  myself  to  harbor  for  one  moment  the  thought,  that 
this  assurance  is  a  mere  unmeaning  form  of  words,  passed  in  the 
routine  of  business,  and  forgotten  amidst  succeeding  occupations 
or  more  interesting  pursuits.  It  cannot  so  be. 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ningpo,  April  10th,  1847. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

Your  letter  of  July  17-20,  did  not  come  till  some  ten  days  or 
more  after  the  things  it  mentioned  had  been  received.  I  believe 
everything  has  come  safe.  Some  of  the  other  brethren  were  not 
so  much  favored,  as  some  three  or  four  boxes  fell  into  the  hands 
of  pirates  between  Canton  and  Macao.  The  pirates  are  getting 
exceedingly  bold  all  along  the  coast.  I  was  told  to-day  that  ten 
out  of  the  eighteen  timber  firms  in  Ningpo  had  shut  up  their  shops 
this  year,  as  the  pirates^m  the  coast  stopped  their  ships  when 
coming  from  Fuhkt  < n  province,  and  required  such  heavy  ransom, 
that  it  became  a  losinUPPiness.  I  hardly  know  how  I  shall  get 
to  Shanghai  this  summer,  as  it  is  hardly  safe  to  venture  out  to 
sea,  in  our  small  passage^  boats,  when  such  customers  are  abroad. 
At  present  I  propose  applying  for  leave  to  go  by  way  of  Hangchou, 
a  place  I  want  to  see  on  many  accounts. 

The  convention  for  the  revision  of  the  Translation  of  the  New 
Testament,  is  to  meet  on  the  1st  of  June.  I  presume  you  will  see 
the  accounts  of  it  as  soon  as  any  other  person.  The  most  inter- 
esting question  likely  to  be  discussed,  is  the  one  in  reference  to  a 


LETTERS.  421 

proper  term  for  "  God."  Increasing  dissatisfaction  is  felt,  by  many 
with  the  term  Shang-te,  which  Mr.  Medhurst  patronizes,  and  the 
discussion  of  that  subject  is  likely  to  be  an  earnest  one.  I  should 
like  much  if  you  could  find  time  to  make  yourself  familiar  with  it. 
You  will  find  in  the  Chinese  Repository  of  1846  and  1847,  several 
articles  on  both  sides.  The  one  in  November  and  December,  1846, 
and  January,  1847,  shows  my  views.  I  think,  if  the  principles 
laid  down  in  the  article  in  the  November  number  are  granted, 
that  the  question  is  settled  in  favor  of  "  Shin,"  and  I  should  be 
glad  to  get  the  opinion  of  some  Biblical  scholars  on  the  subject. 
You  will  see  Mr.  Medhurst's  views  in  the  January  number  of  this 
year.  I  think  every  one  of  his  positions  is  capable  of  a  clear  and 
distinct  answer.  I  hope  some  one  will  reply  to  it.  I  shall  probably 
write  an  answer  myself,  but  do  not  expect  to  publish  it,  having 
already  said  as  much  as  becomes  so  young  a  student  of  the  lan- 
guage. As  an  evidence  of  the  evil  done  by  using  the  term 
Shang-te  for  the  name  of  God,  is  the  following  : — Not  long  ago  a 
very  respectable  man  came  to  my  house  one  Sabbath.  I  got  into 
conversation  with  him,  and  asked  him  if  he  knew  anything  of 
Jesus?  He  replied,  he  had  heard  he  was  the  son  of  "  Yuh  hwang 
ta  te,"  the  "  Jewelled  Great  Emperor."  This  is  the  chief  god  in 
the  Chinese  mythology.  His  birth-day  is  on  the  first  month,  third 
day  ;  his  image  is  in  one  of  our  largest  temples  ;  and  he  is  known 
indifferently  by  the  name  above  given,  or  by  that  of  Shang-te.  I 
never  use  the  term  now,  having  uniformly  found  that  the  people 
supposed  I  meant  their  own  Shang-te. 

Sabbath  evening,  April  11.  This  has  been  a  very  pleasant  day 
clear,  warm,  and  comfortable.  Sermon  at  our  church  by  Mr. 
Culbertson,  on  "Joy  in  heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth." 
After  sermon,  the  eldest  boy  in  the  school,  of  whom  you  have 
heard  several  times,  and  whose  full  name  is  Yuen  Ko  Keun,  made 
profession  of  his  faith,  and  was  received  into  the  church,  in  pres- 
ence of  all  his  school-mates,  and  several  other  Chinese,  by  baptism. 
After  a  short  interval,  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered.  All 
the  services  of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper  were  in  the  Chinese 
language,  and  were  conducted  by  the  pastor,  Mr.  Culbertson. 
This  is,  I  believe,  the  first  case  in  which  any  one  whose  first  im- 
pressions are  due,  under  God,  to  members  of  our  Mission,  has  been 
admitted  to  the  church.  Others  have,  it  is  true,  received  great 
benefit  from  our  mission;  but,  huinankr  speaking,  they  would 
have  been  savingly  converted  if  we  haa  not  been  in  the  field.  I 
suppose  in  this  case,  as  in  the  case  of  Apoo,  baptized  two  years 
ago,  that  the  principal  influence  has  been  exerted  by  Mrs.  Way, 
and  it  is  worthy  of  notice  how  God  has  been  pleased  to  use  the 
youngest,  feeblest,  (as  far  as  bodily  health  is  concerned,)  and  the 
most  unassuming  member  of  our  mission,  to  effect  the  purposes  of 
his  mercy.  To  his  name  be  the  glory.  As  an  offset  to  the  above 
pleasing  account,  take  the  following  : — All  the  time  we  were  en- 
gaged in  our  services,  we  were  disturbed  by  some  Chinese  carpen- 


422  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

ters  close  by,  building  a  pleasure-boat  for  a  European  resident.  I 
went  out  and  requested  them  to  cease,  which  they  promised  to  do, 
but  for  some  reason  did  not.  Coming  home  from  church,  I  found 
in  one  place  a  number  of  Buddhist  priests  reading  and  chanting 
prayers  over  a  person  lately  deceased  ;  and  a  few  steps  further  on, 
a  table  full  of  victuals  spread  before  a  new  tomb,  and  a  widow 
woman  wailing  bitterly.  They  formed  sad  contrasts  to  the  exer- 
cises in  which  we  had  been  engaged. 

After  a  light  dinner,  I  preached  on  the  Eighth  Commandment, 
but  the  audience  was  neither  large  nor  attentive.  One  man,  how- 
ever, evidently  heard  everything,  and  indeed  so  did  another,  who 
was  sitting  by  the  door  outside  when  I  began,  but  became  so 
much  interested,  that  he  came  close  up,  and  sat  down  as  near  me 
as  he  could.  But  most  paid  little  attention,  and  went  away  as 
they  came 

Monday.  Quite  warm  to-day.  I  hope  this  week  to  get  through 
my  collection  of  significations  of  the  words  used  in  the  Four  Books. 
There  are  about  twenty-three  hundred  different  characters.  Most 
of  them  occur  in  only  one  or  two  senses  ;  but  several  of  them  oc- 
cur in  such  a  variety  of  meanings,  that  it  will  take  no  little  skill 
to  get  them  properly  exhibited.  After  getting  through  the  Four 
Books,  I  think  of  laying  the  subject  by  for  three  or  four  months, 
as  I  am  pretty  tired  of  it.  In  the  fall,  if  life  and  health  be  spared, 
I  wish  to  resume  it,  and  treat  the  Five  Classics  in  the  same  man- 
ner, which  will  be  a  large  job,  and  I  suppose  will  occupy  two 

years  at  least 

As  ever,  your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Ning-po,  May  9th,  1847. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

....  The  city  has  been  all  in  a  hubbub  for  the  last  four  days 
with  the  [  Too  shin  hwuy,  or]  Procession  in  honor  of  all  the  Gods. 
Great  preparations  have  been  made  for  it  for  weeks  past,  as  it  is 
the  greatest  festival  of  the  year,  and  crowds  of  people  have  flocked 
in  from  all  parts  of  the  country  to  witness  it.  Perhaps  there  have 
been  five  hundred  thousand  persons,  residents  and  strangers,  con- 
gregated in  and  about  the  city,  and  it  has  been  a  curious  sight  to 
witness  the  crowds  that  collected  where  anything  was  to  be  seen. 
Numerous  companies  of  strolling  play-actors  have  taken  advantage 
of  the  occasion,  to  display  their  talents  and  pick  up  cash.  They 
commonly  have  their  theatres  in  the  temples,  nearly  all  of  which 
have  a  stage  built  for  the  purpose,  but  it  is  not  uncommon  for  the 
actors  to  erect  a  temporary  stage  in  the  street,  occupying  nearly 
the  whole  breadth  of  the  narrow  passage,  and  with  the  crowd  of 
spectators,  rendering  it  utterly  impossible  to  go  through  the  street. 
In  every  street  where  the  procession  was  expected  to  pass,  such 
numbers  of  people  collected  as  made  it  a  matter  of  no  little  diffi- 


PROCESSION    IN   HONOR    OP   THE    GODS.  423 

culty  to  force  one's  way  through.  Parents  were  obliged  to  carry 
their  children  on  their  shoulders,  and  one  would  be  amused  in 
watching  from  an  upper  window  the  tides  of  men  as  they  swept 
backward  and  forward.  Wherever  any  eminence  offered  a  favor- 
able location,  it  was  so  thickly  covered  with  people,  that  it  seemed 
like  some  great  pyramid  of  shaven  heads  and  black  eyes.  Yet 
with  all  this  crowd  there  were  few  cases  of  disorder  or  fighting.  I 
saw  but  one  example  of  the  latter,  in  which  there  were  only  two 
persons  engaged,  one  of  whom  broke  his  pipe-stern  over  the  head 
of  the  other  and  drew  blood,  giving  him  a  hearty  pull  by  the  tail 
at  the  same  time ;  but  the  bystanders,  instead  of  taking  sides,  and 
having  a  "  regular  row,"  as  would  have  been  the  case  in  some 
Christian  countries,  seemed  only  anxious  to  quiet  the  disturbance 
as  soon  as  possible.  Everybody  carries  a  pipe  with  a  wooden 
stem  from  two  to  four  feet  long,  and  it  was  a  curious  sight  to  see 
the  forest  of  pipe-stems  which  the  living  mass  held  up  on  every 
side ;  but  the  stems  were  too  weak  to  have  done  much  harm  as 
cudgels,  and  the  people  do  not  carry  sticks  or  weapons.  There' 
was  no  drunkenness  seen,  and  New  York  on  the  Fourth  of  July 
night  would  compare  badly  with  Ningpo  on  the  Festival  of  all  the 
gods. 

It  would  be  in  vain  to  attempt  to  describe  the  procession,  or  to 
enumerate  its  component  parts,  for  the  number  of  articles  was  too 
great,  and  our  language  contains  no  terms  to  describe  many  of 
them.  It  will  suffice  to  mention  the  most  conspicuous ;  and  if 
you  will  form  an  idea  of  them  arranged  in  any  order  to  suit 
yourself,  you  will  have  nearly  as  definite  an  impression  of  the 
general  features  of  the  procession  as  those  who  have  witnessed 
the  whole. 

Imagine  then,  in  the  first  place,  a  long  narrow  street  not  more 
than  twelve  feet  wide,  and  people  standing  three  and  four  deep 
on  each  side  through  its  whole  length,  leaving  room  for  only  two 
or  three  persons  to  walk  abreast  in  the  middle.  When  more 
room  was  required  to  let  any  part  of  the  procession  pass,  it  was 
obtained  by  a  process  familiarly  known  to  school-boys  by  the 
name  of  "  scrouging."  But  the  Chinese  pack  well,  as  any  one 
would  think  who  might  see  a  passage  boat  going  from  one  place 
to  another,  and  few  complaints  were  heard  when  fifty  men  were 
crowded  into  a  space  where  twenty  could  not  stand  with  any  com- 
fort. Along  this  narrow  passage  way,  came  low,  lean,  scraggy 
horses,  half  concealed  by  stuffed  saddles,  which  were  covered  with 
rich  embroidered  silk  and  with  festoons  of  silk  and  tinsel  sticking 
about  over  the  neck  and  hind  flank  in  every  imaginable  shape. 
The  horses  were  generally  led  by  a  well-dressed  little  boy,  who 
held  the  silken  bridle,  while  the  rough  rope  halter,  but  half  con- 
cealed, was  held  by  a  man  who  walked  at  the  side  to  support  the 
rider.  The  riders  were  all  boys,  frequently  so  small  as  to  be  quite 
unable  to  put  their  feet  in  the  short  stirrups ;  they  were  gor- 
geously dressed  in  silk  robes,  with  highly  ornamented  caps,  and  a 


424  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER, M.  LOWRIE. 

banner  of  some  kind  in  a  socket  fastened  on  their  backs.  There 
was  never  more  than  one  horse  at  a  time,  though  there  were  some 
fifteen  or  twenty  in  all.  Then  came  men  and  boys,  with  blue  or 
white  or  yellow  or  green  caps,  and  parti-colored  dresses,  beating 
gongs,  cymbals  and  drums,  and  blowing  trumpets  and  clarionets 
which  made  one's  ears  tingle;  a  few  had  flutes,  whose  melody 
was  pleasant  enough.  These  musicians  were  so  thickly  scattered 
through  the  procession  that  the  charms  of  music  were  never  want- 
ing, though  sometimes  they  could  have  been  spared  well  enough. 
A  few  men  with  grotesque  masks  and  odd  movements  stalked 
along  or  danced  about,  and  here  and  there  a  man  in  dirty  red 
garments,  doing  penance  (self-imposed)  for  his  sins,  gave  variety 
to  the  scene. 

The  lanterns  were  among  the  most  conspicuous  parts  of  the 
procession,  for  no  show  in  China,  either  by  day  or  night,  is  per- 
fect without  its  lanterns.  There  were  some  called  ''the nine  con- 
nected lanterns,"  and  "  the  five  connected  lanterns,"  which  con- 
sisted of  nine  square  or  five  round  glass  lanterns  in  a  perpen- 
dicular frame,  ornamented  with  silken  fringe  and  tassels,  beads, 
shells,  streamers  and  grotesque  figures  on  the  glass,  often  giving 
ludicrous  caricatures  of  foreign  soldiers  and  sailors.  They  were 
also  ornamented  with  pictures  of  clocks,  and  crowned  with  im- 
ages of  birds  and  beasts.  Large  single  lanterns,  each  borne  by 
one  man,  were  also  carried  about;  but  few  of  these  were  so  hand- 
some as  those  exhibited  last  year.  Men  bearing  long  staves  or 
wands,  ornamented  with  tinsel  or  feather  and  flower  work,  filled  up 
vacant  spaces.  Some  bore  flags  and  streamers,  and  everywhere 
men  with  rattans  about  a  yard  long,  with  pieces  of  colored  cloth 
or  silk  attached,  like  the  feather  of  an  arrow,  were  waving  them 
in  the  faces  of  the  people  to  keep  the  pathway  clear  :  the  number 
of  these  was  so  great  in  all  parts  of  the  procession,  that  they 
formed  one  of  its  most  conspicuous  objects. 

Some  eight  or  ten  dragons,  varying  from  thirty  to  fifty  yards  in 
length,  and  each  borne  by  from  fifteen  to  fifty  men,  attracted  due 
attention.  The  heads  of  these  monsters  were  made  of  a  light 
bamboo  framework,  lined  with  green,  red,  and  yellow  silks,  great 
staring  eyes,  large  teeth,  and  diversified  figures  stuck  about  them, 
while  the  bodies  were  made  of  parti-colored  silks,  red  flannel,  blue 
cotton,  or  whatever  else  the  maker  chose.  One  which  was  par- 
ticularly rich,  was  completely  covered  with  scales  made  of  pieces 
of  looking-glass.  Clumsy  coaches  and  ships,  borne  by  four  or  six 
men.  and  carrying  either  a  girl  or  a  boy,  or  a  drum  which  was 
constantly  beaten,  or  else  a  miniature  table,  with  the  dishes  ar- 
ranged and  chairs  around  it,  or  a  vessel  of  smoking  incense,  occu- 
pied their  due  station  in  the  show.  The  richest  things  were  a 
number  of  large  silken  canopies,  very  richly  embroidered,  with 
beautiful  fringes  of  silk  thread;  each  of  the  canopies,  of  which 
there  were  five  or  six,  differed  from  the  others  in  color,  embroid- 
ery and  fringes.  The  most  amusing  objects,  perhaps,  were  a 


PROCESSION    IN    HONOR    OP   THE    GODS.  425 

couple  of  long-billed  birds,  with  white  bodies,  and  green  legs,  which 
stood  some  ten  or  twelve  feet  high.  These  were  men  walking  on 
stilts,  and  so  disguised  as  to  present  a  good,  though  most  grotesque 
resemblance  to  birds.  They  walked  on  their  stilts  with  much  ap- 
parent ease,  clapped  their  wings,  and  moved  their  heads  about, 
"  very  much  like  nature,  only  a  little  more  so."  Behind  them  fol- 
lowed a  man  on  stilts,  with  a  large  trident,  (looking,  however, 
very  much  like  a  three-pronged  pitchfork,)  which  he  twirled  about 
with  great  assiduity,  but  he  was  in  an  unfortunate  position,  for 
his  immediate  predecessors,  the  birds,  quite  eclipsed  him. 

Perhaps  the  most  interesting  parts  of  the  exhibition  were  the 
stages,  on  which  what  might  be  called  "flying  girls"  were  exhib- 
ited. Of  these  stages  were  eight  or  ten,  having  perhaps  twenty 
girls,  all  supported  in  different  modes.  On  one  of  the  stages  was 
a  vessel  containing  a  lotus  plant  growing  out  of  the  water,  and  on 
its  broad  leaves,  some  six  feet  from  the  stage,  sat  a  couple  of  girls 
apparently  about  sixteen  years  old.  On  another,  two  girls  were 
sitting  on  the  outermost  twigs  of  a  green  bush.  On  another  sat 
a  young  woman  very  much  at  her  ease,  holding  a  light  bamboo 
wand  in  one  hand,  and  having  another  carelessly  resting  over  her 
shoulder  ;  and  on  the  outer  ends  of  these  two  wands  stood  two 
little  girls,  fanning  themselves.  On  another  stage,  stood  a  little 
girl  with  a  gilt  double  ring ;  on  the  upper  ring  stood  another  girl 
on  one  foot.  On  another  stage  sat  a  young  woman  with  a  guitar 
on  one  knee,  and  having  another  slung  across  her  back  ;  and  on 
the  end  of  each  of  these  guitars  stood  a  little  girl.  On  another 
stage  stood  a  young  girl  holding  in  her  hand  a  crooked  serpent, 
some  four  feet  long,  on  the  tail  of  which  stood  another  girl.  On 
another  stage  stood  a  young  woman  holding  up  a  rod,  the  end  of 
which  was  ten  or  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground,  and  on  the  upper  end 
of  this  rod  stood  another  little  girl.  These  little  creatures  were 
all  gorgeously  dressed,  and  some  were  very  pretty ;  they  seemed 
much  at  their  ease,  and  were  delighted  at  the  notice  they  attract- 
ed. They  had  nothing  to  support  them,  except  the  single  hand 
or  the  single  foot  by  which  they  stood  or  held  to  the  slight  poles 
on  which  they  were  perched,  though  occasionally  the  men  who 
walked  alongside  held  up  a  larger  pole  for  them  to  steady  them- 
selves, and  rest  for  a  little  while.  Thus  they  were  carried  about 
for  several  hours,  passing  through  narrow  crowded  streets  in  the 
hot  sun,  and  often  passing  under  arches  so  low  that  it  was  only 
by  stooping  that  they  could  get  through  them.  They  must  have 
been  supported  by  iron  framework,  passing  up  through  the  poles 
or  twills  or  rings  on  which  they  stood,  and  so  arranged  as  to  sus- 
tain their  bodies,  for  the  most  expert  rope-dancer  could  not  long 
have  stood  as  they  did  without  aid,  but  in  most  cases  the  support- 
ing irons  were  so  adroitly  concealed,  that  they  seemed  borne  along 
through  the  air. 

After  speaking  of  the  flying  girls,  it  is  scarcely  worth  while  to 
describe  the  little  boys  standing  on  men's  shoulders,  or  the  fire 


426  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

crackers  that  were  occasionally  fired  off,  as  the  procession  passed 
along.  The  whole  affair  occupied  an  hour  and  a  half  in  pass- 
ing one  point,  and  must  have  been  some  two  miles  long,  but 
it  is  not  probable  that  the  whole  of  it  passed  through  any  one 
street.  The  main  body  went  through  the  city  gates,  principal 
streets,  and  in  front  of  the  offices  of  government,  while  detach- 
ments passed  through  some  of  the  minor  streets,  where  the  inhab- 
itants expressed  a  desire  to  have  them  do  so.  It  is  considered 
lucky  to  have  it  pass  through  the  street  where  one  lives,  and  the 
inhabitants  often  give  presents  to  the  conductors  to  have  detach- 
ments sent  past  their  houses.  There  were  no  idols  carried  this 
year,  though  last  year  a  large  number  were  exhibited,  and  formed 

an  important  part  of  the  procession 

Yours  affectionately, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO. 

January  3d,  1847.  Preached  on  the  faith  of  Abraham,  to  a 
strange  kind  of  an  audience  ;  most  of  them  very  respectable,  but 
disposed  to  talk  and  make  remarks;  some  were  very  attentive; 
but  to  some  the  story  seemed  amusing  and  almost  ridiculous, 
and  the  idea  of  so  old  a  man  having  a  son  only  afforded 
matter  for  a  laugh.  How  hard  it  is  to  preach  to  such  a  people — 
so  indifferent,  so  insensible !  I  came  from  my  address  to  my 
knees ;  for  I  am  made  to  feel  that  the  treasure  is  committed  to 
earthen  vessels. 

Have  some  encouragement  with  my  servants,  particularly  Az- 
hih,  whom  I  am  training  carefully  in  religious  instruction.  They 
take  a  good  deal  of  interest  in  it,  and  I  cannot  but  hope  are  be- 
ginning to  feel  a  little.  Oh,  for  God's  Spirit  to  be  given  to  them. 

January  10th.  Preached  on  the  character  of  God ;  audience 
much  as  usual.  It  is  no  small  trial  of  the  spirit  to  one  accus- 
tomed to  address  attentive  audiences,  to  have  such  as  I  com- 
monly find  ;  people  coming  in  and  going  out,  some  making  re- 
marks, some  laughing,  some  ruder,  and  only  few  attending,  and 
yet  some  of  even  these  few  taking  up  the  strangest  notions  from 
the  plainest  truth.  To  human  eyes  all  such  preaching  must  seem 
very  foolishness.  Well,  be  it  so.  "The  foolishness  of  God  is 
wiser  than  men,"  and  by  "the  foolishness  of  preaching  he  will 
save  them  that  believe." 

The  external  evidences  of  Christianity  are  of  little  use  here. 
The  people  have  as  many  and  as  famous  miracles  as  we  to  boast 
of;  and  their  minds  are  not  so  trained  as  to  perceive  and  appre- 
ciate the  evidence,  which  proves  the  truth  of  ours  and  the  falsity 
of  theirs.  Hence  they  make  no  scruple  of  believing  whatever  we 
tell  of  deeds  of  wonder  by  Christ  and  his  apostles.  They  can 
produce  parallels  in  their  own  history.  I  spoke  of  the  miraculous 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  427 

conception  of  Christ.  "  Oh,  yes,"  said  one,  "  that  is  true,  it  is  just 
like  a  similar  event  in  our  history;  let  me  see,  where  was  it?" 
And  after  some  thought,  and  assisted  by  one  or  two  others  pre- 
sent, he  produced  the  circumstance.  How  should  he  believe  my 
story,  or  feel  more  interest  in  it  than  I  in  his?  Oh,  Spirit  of 
Life,  come  down  ! 

January  17th.   A  rainy  day,  and  no  one  came  to  service. 

January  18th.  Crossing  the  ferry,  I  found  a  very  simple-hearted 
peddler  of  silk  thread  and  trimmings,  on  the  boat.  He  said  he 
sold  about  a  thousand  cash  worth  of  articles  in  a  day,  and  made 
a  profit  of  near  two  hundred,  or  about  sixteen  cents.  He  was 
very  curious  to  know  all  about  my  affairs.  Had  I  a  father  and 
mother?  Did  they  consent  to  my  coming  away  ?  Did  not  they 
cry  very  much  when  I  came  away  ?  When  was  I  going  back  ? 
My  answers  gave  him  great  satisfaction,  but  still  more  to  a  plain- 
looking  but  very  motherly  woman  also  in  the  boat,  who  seemed  at 
a  loss  which  to  admire  most,  a  foreigner  speaking  her  own  lan- 
guage, or  the  evidence  he  gave  of  possessing  the  feelings  of  a 
man.  Nothing  pleases  the  people  better  than  our  speaking  their 
language.  Going  over  there  were  two  or  three  men  in  the  boat, 
one  of  whom  knew  me,  and  asked  some  questions  which  I  an- 
swered ;  quite  a  respectable  man  by  my  side  actually  laughed 
aloud  from  pleasure  at  hearing  me  speak  Chinese,  and  asked  me 
several  questions,  apparently  from  no  other  motive  than  to  hear  a 
foreigner  answer  them  in  Chinese.  I  gave  him  some  tracts,  which 
he  read  very  fluently. 

Jan.  24th.  A  wet,  rainy  day,  and  apprehended  having  no  con- 
gregation again  ;  however,  on  going  down,  found  a  very  respect- 
ably dressed  middle-aged  man  named  Chtth,  who  lives  somewhere 
in  the  city  ;  he  was  very  polite  and  respectful,  told  me  he  had 
long  "  desired  to  see  me,  looked  up  to  me  for  instruction,"  &c., 
according  to  the  usual  routine  of  Chinese  ceremonial  speech. 

We  had  some  talk,  and  as  there  were  three  or  four  persons 
present,  I  delivered  my  discourse  to  a  very  attentive,  though  small 
audience.  The  man  took  a  copy  of  Luke  with  comments,  and 
promising  to  come  again,  departed.  I  was  very  glad  of  the  op- 
portunity of  talking  which  was  afforded,  for  I  sometimes  feel 
greatly  cast  down,  especially  when  I  find  little  opportunity  of 
speaking  for  Christ. 

Knowledge  that  there  is  such  a  thing  as  Christianity  is  increas- 
ing and  spreading  in  this  part  of  the  country,  as  I  frequently  meet 
persons  who  have  heard  at  least,  the  name  of  Jesus. 

Feb.  21st.  For  the  last  three  or  four  Sabbaths,  nothing  special 
has  occurred  ;  audiences  varying  from  ten  to  fifty ;  commonly  sit 
and  talk  more  after  giving  my  sermon  than  I  used  to  do,  which 
gives  an  opportunity  of  more  pointed  and  personal  application, 
but  also  opens  the  door  for  any  and  every  kind  of  question,  and  is 
very  sure,  in  half  an  hour,  to  get  off  to  questions  about  food  and 
clothing,  &c.  The  natural  man  "  understandeth  not  the  things 


428  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

of  the  Spirit."  One  man  to-day  seemed  a  very  merry  sort  of  a 
fellow,  but  withal,  as  respectful  as  a  man  could  be  whose  only 
object  was  to  make  sport ;  asked  a  number  of  questions,  and 
started  a  hearty  laugh  after  each  of  them,  in  which  he  was  joined 
by  several  others,  who  seemed  to  urge  him  on.  At  last,  I  asked 
him  why  he  asked  such  questions  ?  And  whether  his  only  object 
was  not  to  make  sport  of  what  I  considered  a  very  serious  matter? 
He  was  quite  abashed:  several  persons  around  told  him  to  be 
quiet,  and  he  got  up  and  went  out.  Had  quite  a  full  house  as  I 
talked  the  second  time ;  but,  alas !  it  is  preaching  to  dry  bones. 
O,  Spirit !  Breath  of  the  Almighty  !  breathe  on  these  dry  bones  ! 

Feb.  26th.  Took  a  long  walk  into  the  country,  to  some  places 
where  I  have  not  before  been ;  was  exceedingly  stared  at  in  one 
place,  where  the  whole  village  turned  out  to  see  me,  and  the 
women  were  the  most  forward  and  curious  of  all.  Quite  abashed 
a  little  girl  by  asking  her  what  her  name  was,  as  it  seems  she  had 
none.  It  is  not  common  to  give  names  to  girls.  But  it  is  melan- 
choly to  see  the  dissipation  of  morals  here Oh  when  shall 

purity  prevail,  where  there  is  so  much  vice? 

Went  afterwards  and  had  a  pleasant  little  talk  with  some  men 
in  a  little  resting-house,  and  then  came  home,  well  tired.  Some 
little  yellow  flowers  are  in  blossom  now.  I  saw  dandelions  in  full 
bloom  a  month  or  more  ago,  though  there  had  been  a  hard  frost 
before,  and  plenty  of  it  since  then;  but  the  cold  weather  must  be 
nearly  over  now. 

March  14th.  Preached  in  the  morning,  in  English,  on  Gal.  iv. 
7 ;  in  the  afternoon  in  Chinese,  to  some  thirty  or  forty  persons,  on 
the  Fourth  Commandment ;  was  favored  with  as  much  fluency 
as  I  have  ever  had,  and  fully  as  good  if  not  better  attention.  In- 
deed, the  congregation  to-day  would  not  have  done  discredit  to 
any  similar  congregation  in  a  Christian  land.  One  man  came  in 
talking,  and  I  supposed  meant  to  keep  on  talking,  but  he  behaved 
very  quietly,  only  putting  in  a  word  now  and  then.  After  I  had 
said  that  no  work  was  to  be  done  on  the  Sabbath,  he  asked, 
"  Then  what  shall  we  do — go  to  sleep  ?"  This  brought  on  the 
next  part  of  my  subject — Duties  to  be  done  on  the  Sabbath.  He 
stayed  after  service.  I  talked  some;  but  there  were  many  who 
wanted  to  talk  about  the  news  and  trifling  matters,  and  I  found 
so  little  opportunity  of  saying  anything  profitable,  that  I  soon  left 
them.  The  man  above  referred  to,  seemed  a  man  of  some  learn- 
ing. He  insisted  on  it,  that  since  I  was  so  generous,  as  to  come 
out  here,  and  preach  to  the  people,  and  advise  them  to  do  good, 
that  I  would  surely  become  a  god  at  last !  But  how  hard  it  is  to 
get  a  Christian  idea  into  their  heads,  to  say  nothing  of  impress- 
ing it  on  their  hearts.  After  repeating  over  and  over  again,  the 
statements  about  God  as  eternal,  true,  and  holy,  they  are  sure  to 
confound  all  you  say  with  their  own  gods.  This  is  not  because 
they  do  not  understand  what  I  say,  for  I  find  that  I  am  pretty 
well  understood ;  but  because,  first,  they  cannot  conceive  how  it  is 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  429 

that  their  own  gods  are  false  gods  ;  and,  second,  they  have  no 
idea  of  the  importance  of  the  subject,  to  induce  them  to  give  a 
serious  thought  to  what  they  hear,  and  hence,  when  they  hear  of 
the  "  true  God,"  they  take  it  as  a  matter  of  course  that  their  own 
gods  are  intended. 

We  are  greatly  at  a  loss  for  a  word  corresponding  to  our  word 
worship.  The  Chinese  3:3£  :££  pai  pai,  which  comes  nearest  to 

it,  is  very  far  from  expressing  it;  so  that  frequently,  when  I 
have  been  praying  in  public,  some  one  says,  why  you  did  not 
"  pai  pai,"  "  worship."  By  the  use  of  the  word,  they  mean  prin- 
cipally the  motions  of  the  hand  and  the  body  in  bows  and  prostra- 
tions before  the  idol. 

March  21st.  Opened  my  doors  at  three,  p.  M.,  and  went  down  as 
usual,  but  there  were  few  passers-by.  I  sat  alone  for  nearly  half 
an  hour,  having  only  one  little  boy  carrying  a  baby  in  his  arms, 
to  come  near  me.  After  a  while,  two  or  three  well-dressed  men 
came  in  and  one  sat  down,  but.  the  other  two  went  away.  I  asked 
him  his  name  and  residence,  but  he  did  not  seem  disposed  for  a 
conversation.  I  then  opened  a  copy  of  Luke,  and  began  to  read 
it.  He  asked  what  it  was.  and  we  had  something  to  talk  about 
it.  Others  came  in ;  he  praised  my  fluency  of  utterance  and  cor- 
rectness of  speech :  and  in  answer  to  some  questions,  I  had  a  good 
opportunity  of  giving  some  outlines  of  creation  and  redemption. 
But  the  subject  had  no  charms  for  the  natural  heart ;  and  as  soon 
as  I  was  done,  one  of  the  men  asked,  "  Is  your  sovereign  a  man 
or  a  woman?"  Quite  a  crowd  had  now  collected,  and  I  gave 
them  rny  sermon  as  well  as  I  could,  which  was  not  very  well. 
Some  heard  it  all ;  some  got  enough  before  it  was  half  done.  One 
quite  respectable  looking  lady  came  in  and  sat  down,  and  she  at 
least  heard  everything  that  was  said.  Oh  for  a  blessing  on  her ! 

It  is  hard  preaching,  for  the  audience  changes  so  much,  that  I 
must  go  over  the  same  simple  truths  every  day,  treating  all  the 
time  of  first  principles ;  and  this  displeases  the  few  who  come  more 
than  once,  for  having  already  heard  all  this,  they  want  something 
else. 

March  24th.  Started  for  a  walk,  got  out  of  the  south  gate  and 
thought  of  going  up  into  the  country,  when  I  recollected  that  there 
were  little  wax  representations  of  fruit,  &c.,  to  be  had  in  the  city, 
which  I  wanted  to  get.  So  I  turned  off  and  went  through  the 
lowest  gate  towards  the  Koolowtseen.  Passing  by  one  of  the  pa- 
rade grounds,  I  saw  several  persons  with  bows  and  arrows ;  and 
knowing  that  there  were  people  practising  archery  there,  I  went 
in  to  see  what  was  going  on.  There  were  several  groups,  shoot- 
ing at  targets  ;  some  of  the  archers  pierced  the  centre,  while  others 
shot  very  wide  of  the  mark.  As  soon  as  I  came  in,  several  persons 
gathered  around  rne,  and  presently  there  was  quite  a  crowd,  mostly 
well-dressed,  and  respectable  men.  The  first  one  that  spoke  to  me 
asked  my  opinion  of  some  women,  who  were  looking  out  of  a  door 


433  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOV 

not  far  off.  At  home  I  should  not  have  thoi  tit  much  of  such  a 
question,  but  here  it  could  have  only  one  meaning,  and  he  saw  in 
a  moment  that  I  was  displeased,  and  apologized  for  having  spoken 
so.  Great,  merriment  was  caused  by  my  speaking  in  their  own 
language,  and  severa'  'estions  were  put,  apparently  only  for  the 
pleasure  of  hearing  i>  signer  speak  in  Chinese.  I  was  not  in 
much  humor  for  talkin  --o  Itook  out  what  few  tracts  I  had  with 
me.  They  were  gone  ,  ;..  Moment.  I  thought  of  going  too,  but 
a  very  pleasant  looking  your^  man  said.  "Oh  do  not  go,  stay  and 
talk."  "  What  shall  I  talk  about  ?"  said  I ;  and  then  seeing  one 
of  them  looking  over  a  copy  of  the  Ten  Commandments  I  had  just 
given  him,  I  took  it,  and  gave  them  a  little  talk  on  them,  and  on 
the  redemption  of  Christ.  They  were  very  curious  to  know  where 
I  lived.  So  I  told  them  where,  and  that  I  should  be  happy  to  see 
them  at  my  house,  at  my  Chinese  service  on  the  Sabbath.  Sev- 
eral said  they  would  come.  We  parted  on  the  best  terms. 

I  then  went  to  the  Koolowtseen  street,  and  found  a  great  crowd; 
now  is  the  time  of  the  annual  examination  for  Sewtsai.  Stalls  of 
all  kinds  of  coarse  toys  were  set  up  on  both  sides  of  the  street,  and 
the  venders  seemed  to  be  making  money.  I  was  much  interested 
with  the  dexterity  of  the  men  who  made  wax  figures.  They  had 
half  a  dozen  kinds  of  different  colored  wax  balls,  and  a  very  small 
furnace;  and  three  men  were  busily  employed  in  making  figures 
of  fish,  four-footed  beasts,  &c.  They  also  made  flowers,  fruits. 
&c.  The  fruits  were  especially  natural.  Everything  was  done 
by  hand  or  by  little  sticks,  and  pieces  of  iron  ;  and  the  resem- 
blances thus  formed  were  surprisingly  accurate.  The  articles 
made  were  also  very  cheap,  and  for  eleven  cents  I  got  seventeen 
or  eighteen  of  them. 

March  27th.  There  is  a  great  crowd  of  strangers  in  the  city  at 
present,  in  consequence  of  the  examinations.  After  dinner  Ho 
Keun,  the  oldest  boy  in  the  school,  whom  we  hope  to  receive  into 
the  church  at  our  next  communion,  spent  some  time  with  me. 
He  thought  there  were  a  great  many  comparisons,  or  figurative 
expressions,  in  the  book  of  Revelation.  I  told  him  he  would  do 
better  not  to  attend  to  that  so  soon.  He  wanted  to  know  how  the 
Lazarus  whom  Jesus  loved  could  have  been  so  poor  as  to  be  laid 
at  a  rich  man's  gate.  He  had  a  number  of  other  questions  which 
I  answered.  After  speaking  a  while  in  Chinese,  we  conversed  in 
English.  He  speaks  well  for  the  time  he  has  spent  at  it.  It 
seemed  strange  to  hear  a  Chinese  speak  in  my  own  language. 
Our  hope  is  that  he  will  be  a  blessing  to  his  own  people. 

Sabbath,  2Sth.  Rose  at  half-past  six  o'clock.  Morning  occupa- 
tions as  usual.  Breakfast  at  half-past  seven.  Read  in  the  Bible 
till  nine.  Fell  into  a  long  train  of  thought  about  getting  a  Sab- 
bath school  in  St.  Louis  to  undertake  my  support,  and  many 
thoughts  on  this  subject  crowded  into  my  mind.  Looked  over  rny 
Chinese  sermon  for  the  afternoon,  and  selected  some  short  tracts 
for  distribution.  English  service  as  usual,  a  ad  a  good  sermon  by 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  431 

Mr.  Culbertson.  \t  three  opened  the  doors  of  my  Chinese  room, 
found  almost  the  only  constant  hearer  I  have,  in  the  room.  A 
few  others  came  in,  and  I  commenced  my  discourse,  which  was 
on  the  Sixth  Commandment.  I  believe  I  never  got  on  better,  or 
had  a  more  quiet  and  attentive  audier.  After  speaking  about 
twenty  minutes,  we  all  rose,  and  I  oil  a  short  prayer,  and  dis- 
missed them.  Gave  away  all  t'ie  t  s;  and  two  young  men 
from  Hangchow,  the  capital  of  the  p.i  .ice,  were  highly  gratified 
at  receiving  some  of  them,  and  at  my  speaking  in  their  own  lan- 
guage, and  gave  me  many  thanks. 

1  am  teaching  the  Shorter  Catechism  to  my  servants,  but  find 
it  hard  work  ;  first,  the  Chinese  language  has  no  suitable  terms 
for  many  things,  and  second,  my  command  of  the  language  is  not 
yet  sufficient  for  the  circumlocution  in  such  a  case.  There  are 
more  terms  in  the  written  language  than  in  the  spoken,  but  they 
are  of  no  more  use  to  the  common  people  than  the  Latin  and 
Greek  terms  in  theological  and  philosophical  books  are  to  the  un- 
learned at  home.  I  know  of  no  term  in  the  language  to  express 
precisely  "chief  end."  For  "decree,"  there  is  a  good  word,  ming, 
in  the  written  language,  but  not  in  the  spoken.  For  "  covenant," 
yo  is  a  good  word,  but  it  is  understood  only  by  scholars,  nor  is 
there  any  good  word  for  it  in  the  colloquial.  "Providence,"  "fall," 
"  redemption,"  "original  sin,"  "  effectual  calling,"  "justification," 
"  adoption,"  "  sanctification,"  "  privilege/'  "  holy,"  are  all  vary  hard 
words  to  be  put  into  intelligible  Chinese.  Most  of  them  may  be 
expressed,  after  a  sort,  in  the  written  language,  which  is  very  co- 
pious, but  when  it  comes  to  the  spoken  language  one  is  at  a  loss, 
arid  a  great  deal  of  circumlocution  is  unavoidable.  One  of  the 
great  difficulties  in  our  work  lies  in  this  very  want  of  proper  terms, 
and  1  see  not  how  it  is  to  be  remedied  excepting  in  long  and  pa- 
tient use  of  the  most  suitable  terms  we  can  find  ;  thus,  at  length, 
"  converting"  them  from  their  heathenish  uses  and  associations  to 
Christian  purposes. 

How  true  are  those  words,  "  Sin  has  reigned  unto  death  !"  Its 
power  is  shown  even  in  forms  of  speech.  The  application  of  terms 
to  evil,  is  an  evidence  of  sin  reigning.  This  language  is  an  instru- 
ment in  Satan's  hand  to  blind  men  to  their  ruin.  But  as  sin  hath 
reigned,  so  shall  grace  reign,  even  in  the  terms  of  this  language, 
unto  everlasting  life.  Wherever  sin  hath  set  up  its  throne  and 
swayed  its  sceptre,  there  shall  grace  come  in  and  set  up  a  higher 
throne,  and  sway  a  mightier  sceptre.  Would  that  I  might  do 
something  for  the  conversion  of  this  language,  and  through  it  of 
this  people  unto  God  ! 

Monday,  29th.  Busy  in  the  fore  part  of  the  day  with  my  teacher, 
and  at  the  Four  Books.  At  three,  visited  Mr.  Culbertson.  ^Coining 
bock,  was  barked  at  unmercifully  by  several  dogs.  As  soon  as  I 
am  three  steps  beyond  them,  they  follow  for  a  square  or  two,  bark- 
ing and  yelping  without  ceasing.  It  does  make  one  feel  as  a 


432  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

stranger  to  be  barked  at  in  this  way,  for  they  do  not  move  their 
tongue  to  a  Chinaman. 

Mutch  30th.  All  the  missionaries  in  Ningpo  met  to  discuss  the 
question  of  the  marriage  of  Christian  converts  with  persons  re- 
maining in  heathenism.  The  question  came  up  inconsequence  of 
a  letter  from  some  missionaries  in  Shanghai,  who  have  a  case  of 
the  kind  on  hand,  arid  wanted  to  know  our  views.  After  a  com- 
parison of  views  for  four  hours,  we  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
such  marriages  were  inexpedient  and  to  be  discouraged ;  but  did 
not  feel  prepared  to  make  a  term  of  communion  in  all  cases  out 
of  the  subject. 

March  31st.  All  day  at  my  Chinese  studies,  and  at  the  Four 
Books.  At  five,  p.  M.,  took  a  walk  for  relaxation.  Gathered  some 
spring  flowers  for  my  flower-pot ;  a  few  wild  lemon  flowers,  some 
clover,  some  yellow  primrose,  some  parsley,  and  one  or  two  others. 
In  one  place  came  across  a  dead  dog,  and  two  other  dogs  lying  by 
him.  In  a  few  steps  beyond,  saw  a  flowering  almond  in  full  and 
luxurious  bloom.  So  it  is  in  this  strange,  melancholy  world  of 
ours.  When  most  pleasantly  engaged,  you  are  wounded  and 
grieved  by  some  revolting  spectacle,  and  again  in  a  moment  de- 
lighted with  some  scene  almost  too  fair  and  beautiful  for  aught  but 
heaven. 

April  1st.  In  the  evening  looked  over  my  Chinese  sermon.  At 
first  it  took  me  three  evenings  to  prepare  a  discourse,  but  now  I 
commonly  get  through  very  easily  in  one  evening.  I  find  I  am 
generally  understood,  but  mistakes  are  often  made  by  beginners. 
I  often  wonder  how  the  Chinese  can  keep  such  grave  faces,  when 
they  hear  such  queer  combinations  as  we  foreigners  sometimes 
make  out  of  their  language.  The  only  time  they  ever  laughed  at 
a  mistake  I  made,  was  when  I  spoke  of  "Peter's  mother's  wife," 
instead  of  "  Peter's  wife's  mother."  Even  then  some  of  the  elder 
hearers  seemed  scandalized,  that  the  young  ones  were  amused  at 
a  mistake  of  "the  guest." 

April  3d.  Looked  a  little  into  a  work  in  Chinese,  on  astronomy, 
geography,  and  watch-making,  by  some  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
missionaries  of  former  days.  It  gives  the  Ptolemaic  system  of  as- 
tronomy, that  the  sun  and  stars  move  round  the  earth.  In  the 
numerous  books  they  published  in  China,  they  always  explained 
astronomy  in  the  old  style,  and  published  books  with  plates,  repre- 
senting the  sun  and  stars  revolving  round  the  earth.  I  have  seen 
some  of  these  books. 

Went  up  to  a  Leang-ting,  where  I  preached  my  first  Chinese 
sermon  last  year.  These  are  covered  resting-places  with  stone 
seats,  w*here  you  may  sit  down  and  rest  awhile.  They  are  met 
with  eve*y  two  or  three  miles,  and  might  remind  one  of  the  arbor 
on  the  hill  Difficulty,  made  for  the  refreshment  of  the  pilgrims,  if 
they  were  not,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  built  alongside  of  an  idol 
temple.  In  this  populous  country  you  cannot  sit  down  five  min- 
utes in  one  of  these  places,  without  having  several  people  gather 


JOURNAL    AT    NINGPO.  433 

round  you.  To-day  there  were  twelve  or  fifteen  persons,  and  I 
talked  to  them  on  the  folly  of  idolatry,  the  true  God,  the  sinful- 
ness  of  man,  and  Christ  the  only  Saviour.  After  talking  ten  or 
fifteen  minutes,  I  gave  away  what  tracts  I  had  with  me,  and  left 
them  with  a  hearty  good-by  on  both  sides. 

April  4th.  Preached  to-day,  in  course,  on  the  Seventh  Command- 
ment to  a  pretty  large  audience. 

April  17th.  The  people  are  now  preparing  their  nursery  beds  for 
rice ;  in  a  few  the  rice  is  already  sown,  but  in  most  the  water  is 
merely  let  in,  and  the  beds  are  little  else  than  so  many  dishes  of 
wet  mud,  six  inches  deep. 

April  19th.  An  excessively  hot  day ;  thermometer  at  97°  for 
some  hours.  Ripe  cherries  to-day,  but  not  very  good. 

April  21st.  Green  peas  to-day.  There  are  shad  in  the  market, 
but  at  present  very  dear,  about  half  a  dollar  a  pound. 

April  24th.  A  poor  crazy  man  has  been  lingering  about,  near  my 
house,  most  of  the  day.  He  looks  from  his  dress  and  counte- 
nance, as  if  he  suffered  but  little  for  want  of  the  comforts  of  life. 
When  I  first  saw  him  he  was  kneeling  on  the  grass  by  the  side 
of  my  house,  and  chanting  a  book  of  Buddhist  prayers,  making 
occasional  prostrations ;  seeing  me  watching  him  he  got  up  and' 
went  farther  off,  and  then  walked  backwards  and  forwards,  chant- 
ing his  book,  and  making  bows.  Quite  a  crowd  looked  at  him, 
which  seemed  not  to  please  him,  for  he  hastily  put  his  book  under 
his  arm  and  went  off.  Just  now,  half-past  eight,  p.  M.,  I  hear 
him  again  singing  out  lustily,  O  me  to  fuh  !  but  some  of  his 
friends  seem  to  be  persuading  him  to  go  home.  Is  this  a  case  of 
religious  madness  ? 

April  25th.  Preached  to  some  twenty  or  thirty  persons  on  the 
Tenth  Commandment,  and  was  favored  with  a  good  deal  of  fluency 
in  speech.  Several  were  very  attentive;  and  after  sitting  down,  I 
got  into  a  conversation  which  lasted  more  than  an  hour,  in  refer- 
ence to  idolatry,  creation,  redemption,  the  creed,  &c.  On  the 
whole,  it  was  a  very  satisfactory  meeting,  yet  alas !  without  the 
Spirit  of  God,  of  what  avail  is  it  all  ?  The  people  laugh  at  their 
idols,  but  go  and  worship  them  still. 

After  dismissing  the  audience,  I  found  a  couple  of  natives 
of  the  place,  a  Mr.  Tai,  and  a  Mr.  Leu,  waiting  to  speak  with 
me.  I  had  seen  them  both  before,  and  the  first  of  them  several 
times.  He  was  first  led  to  think  about  Christianity,  by  a  Chinese 
who  came  up  here  with  Dr.  Macgovvan,  and  who  first  brought 
him  to  my  notice.  Last  week  he  sent  me  a  letter  requesting  bap- 
tism, and  came  to-day  to  speak  about  it.  He  said  that  himself 
and  his  friend,  Mr.  Leu,  and  another,  Mr.  Chow,  whom  I  have 
also  seen,  are  all  pretty  much  decided  for  Christianity;  and 
though,  as  he  says,  he  is  much  laughed  at  and  reviled  by  his 
friends,  yet  he  professes  a  determination  to  persevere  even  until 
death.  I  had  a  tolerably  satisfactory  conversation  with  them,  and 
we  prayed  together. 

28 


434  MEMOIR   OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

Worship  of  ancestors  is  one  of  the  great  features  of  the  Chinese 
religion ;  every  family  has  a  picture  of  the  father  and  mother,  to 
which  incense  is  offered,  and  religious  worship  performed.  Mr. 
Tai  asked  what  he  should  do?  He  said  he  had  taken  down  the 
pictures  and  laid  them  away,  and  has  fully  determined  not  to 
worship  them  any  more  ;  "  and  if  I  should  deceive  you  hy  saying 
I  do  not  worship  them,  when  I  do  worship  them,  ye.t  I  could  not 
deceive  God."  He  has,  however,  been  told  he  should  burn  the 
pictures.  Now  this  seems  hard,  for  being  portraits  of  his  parents, 
he  wishes  to  keep  Ihem  just  as  we  would.  Does  this  case  fall 
under  the  rule  of  destroying  every  vestige  of  idolatry,  no  matter 
what  it  be? 

April  18th.  Finished  the  first  draught  of  the  Shorter  Catechism 
in  Chinese,  and  May  llth,  finished  revision  of  it  with  teacher. 

May  10th.  Suffering  greatly  from  drought ;  very  little  rain  has 
fallen  during  the  winter,  though  as  there  was  no  cultivation  of 
any  consequence  and  no  irrigation,  the  canals  have  kept  full. 
But  of  late,  since  the  planting  of  rice  commenced,  the  water  in  the 
canals  has  been  in  great  measure  used  up,  and  some  of  them  are 
quite  dry.  The  Kin  too,  or  prohibition  of  slaughtering  pork,  has 
been  enforced  of  late,  to  propitiate  the  gods  ;  but  as  yet  very  slight 
showers  mock  our  hopes,  and  some  apprehension  is  felt  for  the 
result  on  the  crops. 

In  some  fields,  the  rice  is  already  transplanted ;  but  in  most  of 
them,  the  cabbage  is  only  removed  and  the  water  being  let  in  on 
them. 

May  16th.  Preached  to-day  on  Heaven ;  but  it  was  talking  of 
things  in  which  the  people  seemed  to  feel  that  they  had  little  con- 
cern. Had  more  satisfaction  in  a  short  extempore  address  I  made 
afterwards,  on  the  main  object  of  Christianity.  Two  or  three 
inquirers  were  present,  who  have  been  attending  at  Dr.  Macgow- 
an's,  but  of  late  have  shown  a  disposition,  entirely  of  their  own,  to 
come  to  me.  I  asked  two  of  them  to  make  some  remarks,  as  I 
knew  they  had  been  in  the  habit  of  talking  on  the  subject  of 
Christianity.  They  both  did  so ;  what  they  said  was  good 
enough,  but  it  did  not  seem  very  direct  or  impressive. 

I  find  the  Commentary  on  Luke  takes  very  well ;  one  of  them 
inquired  with  much  interest,  if  any  more  or  other  books  would  be 
published,  remarking  that  it  was  very  hard  to  understand  our 
Scriptures  without  them,  which  is  true.  The  drought  still 
continues. 

May  22d.  Very  heavy  rains.  The  prohibition  of  slaughtering 
pork  removed ;  the  rains,  however,  lasted  only  one  day. 

May  24th.  Started  with  Mr.  Cole  in  a  boat  for  Chapoo,  I 
meaning  to  go  from  thence  to  Shanghai,  and  he  to  Pooto.  Left 
Ningpo  at  ten  o'clock,  p.  M.,  and  expected  to  leave  Chinhai  at 
daylight  next  morning. 

May  25th.  Found  the  boatmen  determined  not  to  go  till  next 
day;  many  excuses  ;v  first,  that  they  did  not  know  the  route  to 


JOURNAL    EN    ROUTE    TO   SpANGHAI.  435 

Chapoo,  and  must  get  another  boatman  to  go  along ;  then,  that 
they  had  some  repairing  to  do,  &c.  Entreaties,  threats,  and 
promises  were  useless,  and  we  found  ourselves  under  the  necessity 
of  submitting.  1  suspect  that  they  wish  to  smuggle  some  opium 
from  here  to  Chapoo,  under  cover  of  foreign  protection,  and  having 
made  an  agreement  to  do  so,  they  are  determined  on  so  doing,  as 
they  would  thereby  make  money.  There  being  no  help,  we  went 
ashore  and  rambled  about  Chinhai,  and  up  to  Cho  paou  sau,  a 
Buddhist  temple  on  top  of  the  hill  which  overlooks  the  city,  and 
from  which  there  is  a  splendid  view  by  sea  and  by  land ;  nothing 
particular  to  see  in  the  temple.  It  is  ascended  by  three  hundred 
and  twenty-three  steps,  many  of  them  cut  out  of  the  rock.  One  of 
the  monks  was  quite  unable  to  tell  the  names  of  the  attendant 
deities  in  the  hall  of  Kwan  Yin  ! 

The  city  is  apparently  not  more  than  a  mile  square,  and  not  at  all 
thickly  settled  ;  one-third  of  the  interior  is  occupied  with  rice-fields. 
The  people,  children,  and  dogs  were  very  civil. 

May  26th.  Wednesday.  Started  about  two  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and 
got  out  of  the  harbor  of  Chinhai,  but  found  it  so  calm  that  we  could 
not.  make  head  against  the  tide,  and  came  to  anchor.  Favorable 
tide  at  six  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  with  light  wind  went  on  well  till  about 
noon  ;  got  nearly  half  way  to  Chapoo ;  tide  turning  and  wind  light, 
had  to  anchor.  Wind  becoming  stronger  and  tide  slackening,  up 
anchor  at  five,  and  went  on  :  but  the  wind  soon  came  out  dead 
ahead,  and  looked  squally.  About  six,  blew  pretty  hard,  and  all 
at  once  the  boatmen  put  the  helm  down  and  turned  back  to  Chin- 
hai !  They  said  it  was  going  to  blow  hard,  they  could  make  no 
progress  against  the  wind,  and  there  was  no  place  to  anchor  during 
the  night.  Several  boats  ahead  of  us  also  turned  back,  and  as  the 
Chinese  "  are  good  barometers,"  we  did  not  like  to  insist  on  their 
going  ahead.  But  though  the  wind  was  fair  and  strong  for  Chin- 
hai, yet  such  was  the  strength  of  the  adverse  tide,  that  we  could 
make  no  progress  whatever  against  it,  and  it  was  not  till  midnight, 
that  we  found  ourselves  going  ahead.  It  was  now  blowing  pretty 
hard,  raining,  and  a  tolerably  heavy  sea,  so  that  we  were  not 
sorry  when  the  anchor  was  dropped  in  Chinhai,  twenty-four  hours 
after  we  had  left  it.  I  am  not  very  successful  in  sea  voyages. 

May  27th.  Thursday.  Strong  wind  and  dull  weather,  and  no 
prospect  of  getting  off  to-day.  As  Mr.  Cole  was  anxious  to  go  on 
to  Pooto,  I  looked  about  among  the  boats,  and  found  another  going 
to  Chapoo,  as  soon  as  the  weather  would  permit.  Although  the 
accommodations  were  of  the  most  contracted  kind  possible,  yet  the 
boat  offered  several  advantages,  and  I  engaged  a  passage.  The 
weather  however  continued  such  that  going  was  quite  impossible, 
and  as  Mr.  Cole  could  not  go  to  Pooto,  I  spent  the  afternoon  and 
night  in  his  boat. 

May  28th.  Friday  morning  opened  with  rain,  as  if  it  might  con- 
tinue long;  but  about  seven  it  cleared  off  somewhat,  and  as  the 
weather  gave  some  indications  of  clearing  off,  and  the  wind  came 


436  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

from  the  south,  the  boatmen  gave  me  some  hopes  of  getting  offto- 
night  or  to-morrow  morning  !  Patience — "  Let  patience  have  her 
perfect  work."  Azhih  came  down  from  Ningpo  with  some  letters 
for  me  from  home,  and  I  concluded  to  send  Apuen  back  and  take 
Azhih  along,  as  I  had  originally  intended,  but  which  his  sickness 
on  Monday  prevented. 

May  29th.  Saturday  opened  very  dull  indeed ;  wind  fair,  but 
weather  dark,  and  raining  at  times.  Boatmen  said  they  could 
not  go  to-day;  so  I  said,  I  could  not  go  to-morrow,  as  it  will  be 
Sunday.  This  brought  them  to  a  decision,  and  after  some  con- 
sultation, the  head  man  came  and  said  they  would  start  in  the 
evening,  and  if  the  wind  continued  fair,  one  tide  would  take  us  to 
Chapoo.  They  were  very  anxious  to  have  us  go,  for  there  are 
many  pirates  about  just  now.  and  the  presence  and  flag  of  a  for- 
eigner is  a  protection  not  to  be  despised.  I  carry  no  arms,  but 
such  is  the  terror  in  all  this  part  of  the  country  of  foreigners,  that 
it  is  thought  no  pirates  would  venture  to  attack  a  boat  which  had 
one  on  board.  Not  only  my  own  boatmen,  bi't  those  of  nine  or 
ten  other  boats  which  are  going  together  to  Chapoo,  expect  mate- 
rial protection  from  my  presence  alone.  I  do  not  like  going  just 
now,  for  it  will  oblige  me  to  spend  the  Sabbath  on  the  road ;  but  I 
do  not  well  know  how  to  avoid  this,  for  the  Convention  meets  on 
Tuesday,  and  for  me  to  wait  at  Chinhai  till  Monday  will  make  it 
impossible  to  be  there  in  time ;  doubtful  whether  I  can  be  in  time 
as  it  is,  but  I  hope  to  be  in  Chapoo  during  the  night,  and  by  get- 
ting a  boat  early  in  the  morning,  and  stopping  at  some  quiet 
place  on  the  canal,  I  can  spend  the  Sabbath  in  peace. 

Left  Chinhai  at  noon,  and  anchored  under  "  Joshouse  hill"  till 
about  five,  p.  M.,  when  the  tide  set  fair  for  Chapoo,  and  with  a  fair 
wind  we  made  sail.  It  was  a  beautiful  afternoon,  and  the  sun  set 
without  a  cloud.  My  boat  was  filled  up  with  one  hundred  and 
sixteen  bales  of  mats,  each  containing  seventy-five  mats,  in  all  8,700, 
besides  other  things.  This  filled  it  so  full  as  hardly  to  leave  room 
to  move.  There  were  seven  boatmen,  six  Chinese  passengers, 
and  myself.  The  apartment  I  occupied  was  about  eight  feet 
square,  and  in  the  middle  high  enough  for  me  to  sit  not  very  com- 
fortably. This  was  occupied  by  myself,  to  whom  was  given  the 
back  part,  as  the  most  retired,  and  by  my  servant,  a  Chinese 
passenger  and  his  servant,  and  another  passenger,  who  turned  out 
to  be  an  acquaintance  of  Azhih.  It  was  "  pretty  thick"  work ; 
master  and  man  were  close  together,  and  it  was  hard  to  say  tc 
whom  the  various  arms  and  legs  belonged ;  outside  was  no  better, 
for  the  boatmen  were  as  crowded  as  we  were.  Among  the  boat- 
men was  one  much  given  to  story  telling,  and  he  amused  the  other 
boatmen  and  the  passengers  for  two  or  three  hours,  with  an  inces- 
sant stream  of  talk. 

We  went  on  finely,  and  got  to  Chapoo  very  soon  after  midnight; 
but  owing  to  the  crowded  and  close  state  of  the  apartment,  I  slept 


JOURNAL    ON    ROUTE    TO    SHANGHAI.  437 

very  little  all  night.  The  rest  of  the  company,  however,  seemed 
to  feel  little  inconvenience. 

Sabbath.  In  the  morning  found  the  receding  tide  had  left  our 
boat  high  and  dry  in  the  mud,  and  the  only  way  to  get  to  shore, 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off,  was  by  wading  through  the  mud, 
or  going  in  a  chair.  Had  the  boat  been  at  all  comfortable,  I 
should  have  stayed  and  spent  the  Sabbath  in  her,  but  the  idea  of 
spending  a  Sabbath  in  such  a  confined  apartment,  on  a  mud  flat, 
and  with  people  busy  taking  out  the  cargo,  was  not  agreeable. 
So  I  sent  Azhih  off  to  get  a  boat  for  Shanghai.  He  got  one  for 
twenty-six  hundred  cash,  not  quite  two  dollars;  but  when  I  got 
there,  and  they  found  it  was  a  "  Red  haired  man,"  they  insisted 
on  five  dollars.  We  agreed  at  last  on  four  thousand  cash,  nearly 
three  dollars,  the  day  to  be  spent  at  some  quiet  place,  and  to  pro- 
ceed to  Shanghai  to-morrow.  It  was  about  eight  o'clock  when 
we  got  to  the  entrance  of  the. canal  leading  to  Shanghai  and  Soo- 
chow.  The  wind  was  fair  and  strong  for  Shanghai,  and  the  boat- 
men would  have  liked  much  to  have  gone  on,  but  as  they  knew 
the  increase  of  their  pay  depended  partly  on  staying,  they  said 
little,  and  fastened  the  boat  stem  and  stern  to  a  couple  of  lines  at 
the  side  of  the  canal. 

I  now  began  to  feel  the  effects  of  the  accommodations  and  sleep- 
lessness of  the  night,  in  a  headache,  which,  though  not  severe, 
effectually  prevented  all  reading  till  about  noon.  Otherwise  my 
situation  was  very  pleasant,  and  the  Sabbath  passed  quietly  away. 

I  could  not  avoid  noticing  the  immense  number  of  boats  of  all 
shapes  and  sizes,  which  went  out  from  Chapoo,  and  passed  us  on 
their  way  to  Shanghai,  Soochow,  and  other  places.  It  would  cer- 
tainly be  a  moderate  estimate  to  say  that  in  four  hours,  there  were 
upwards  of  three  hundred  boats,  and  perhaps  twice  that  number 
would  be  nearer  the  truth,  for  in  the  little  reach  of  the  canal,  about 
quarter  of  a  mile  long,  where  my  boat  is  moored,  there  was  never 
less  than  one  boat  passing  through,  and  frequently  from  four  to 
ten  at  the  same  time. 

The  dialect  of  Chapoo  is  so  much  like  that  of  Ningpo,  that  my 
servant  finds  no  difficulty  in  talking  with  the  people  and  under- 
standing them.  It  has  some  peculiarities,  however,  which  makes 
it  difficult  for  me  at  present  to  understand  it ;  and  I  find  that  they 
understand  me  much  better  than  I  do  them. 

I  did  not  go  into  the  city.  In  fact  my  coming  this  way  at  all, 
is  against  the  law ;  but  as  no  notice  has  been  taken  of  several 
persons,  who  have  passed  and  repassed  without  permits,  I  have 
made  no  scruple  in  walking  through  such  of  the  streets  as  was 
necessary  in  gettingto  the  boat.  Crowds  collected  to  see  me,  but 
I  observed  no  rudewess,  and  but  seldom  heard  the  term  "  white 
devil,"  which,  indeed,  is  often  used  without  intending  any  insult. 
Chapoo  is  the  town  where  the  English  met  with  the  fiercest  re- 
sistance, as  it  is  partly  inhabited  by  Manchus,  who  are  much 
braver  than  the  Chinese.  It  would  seem,  from  the  number  of 


438  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

boats  to  be  a  place  of  some  business  and  population,  though  I  sup- 
pose the  canal  I  am  now  on,  is  the  greatest  of  all  the  arteries  that 
issue  from  it. 

May  31st.  Monday.  Started  during  the  night,  and  on  going  out 
in  the  morning  about  sunrise,  found  ourselves  at  a  thriving  town, 
called  San  Kew,  twenty-seven  le  from  Chapoo,  or  about  nine  miles. 

The  canal  was  here  quite  wide  and  deep,  and  at  each  end  of 
the  town  was  crossed  by  a  beautiful  arched  bridge.  The  hand- 
somest tower  I  have  seen  in  China  stood  by  one  of  the  bridges. 
It  was  five  stories  high,  had  galleries  all  round  in  each  story, 
sounding  bells  attached  to  the  cornices,  ropes  passing  up  and 
down,  with  some  beautiful  trees  close  by,  and  the  whole  looked 
new  and  clean.  For  many  miles  we  passed  on  through  a  country 
occupied  with  fields  of  wheat,  and  stalk-beans  nearly  ripe.  The 
people  have  not  yet  commenced  their  rice,  but  will  in  a  very  few 
days  ;  they  are  three  weeks  behind  those  of  Ningpo.  The  banks 
of  the  canal  are  lined  with  willows  or  mulberry  trees  to  feed 
silk-worms,  and  the  water-wheels  are  generally  covered  with 
thatched  roofs,  which  is  quite  an  improvement  on  the  plan  at 
Ningpo,  where  no  such  care  is  shown.  I  did  not  observe  when 
we  left  the  canal  for  the  Hwangpoo  river,  but  it  was  some  time 
during  the  forenoon.  We  made  pretty  good  progress  till  about 
noon,  when  we  were  thirty-seven  miles  from  Shanghai,  where  we 
found  the  tide  unfavorable,  and  as  we  were  now  beating  by  long 
tacks  against  the  wind,  we  came  to  anchor  and  got  dinner.  Pro- 
ceeded again  about  dark,  but  had  to  anchor  during  the  next  tide. 
Went  on  again  at  daylight  on  Tuesday,  and  by  seven  o'clock 
reached  Shanghai.  A  forest  of  masts  of  junks  filled  the  river, 
but  there  were  no  foreign  ships.  Found  my  way  to  Bishop 
Boone's  without  difficulty,  and  after  breakfast  went  out  with  Mr. 
Syle,  to  call  on  some  of  the  foreign  merchants  and  th  ^  mission- 
aries. The  foreign  residences  form  quite  a  town,  and  when  all 
are  finished  will  be  a  settlement  quite  unequalled  in  China.  Some 
of  them  are  very  expensive,  and  everything  indicates  an  expecta- 
tion of  this  place  becoming,  at  no  distant  day,  the  head-quarters 
of  influence  in  China.  Called  on  Messrs.  Medhurst,  Milne,  and 
Lockhart,  but  did  not  stay  long  at«  either  place. 

In  the  evening,  went  over  the  river  with  Dr.  Boone,  Mrs.  Boone, 
and  a  number  of  others,  and  walked  among  the  rice-fields  ;  after- 
wards, aU  spent  the  evening  at  Dr.  Boone's,  and  so  closed  the  first 
day  of  a  residence  in  Shanghai,  which  they  all  tell  me  will  extend 
to  six  months  or  a  year,  a  length  of  time  which  I  had  not  at  all 
anticipated. 


Shanghai,  June  3d,  1847. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER  — 

In  some  of  my  previous  letters,  I  mentioned  to  you  my  expec- 
tation of  visiting  this  place.     The  object  is  to  be  present  at  the 


LETTERS.  439 

Convention  for  the  revision  of  the  translation  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, to  which  I  have  been  appointed  one  of  the  delegates.  The 
other  delegates  are  Drs.  Medhurst,  Boone,  Bridgeman,  and  Mr.  J. 
Stronach.  I  do  not  yet  know  of  any  others,  and  presume  there 
are  no  others.  Bridgeman  and  Stronach  are  not  here  yet,  but  are 
expected  daily.  I  supposed  the  Convention  would  not  sit  more 
than  six  or  seven  weeks,  but  every  one  here  seems  to  think  that 
six  months  is  the  shortest  possible  time,  and  a  year  is  spoken  of 
as  more  probable.  The  work  is  important  enough,  no  doubt,  to 
deserve  so  much  time,  though  I  have  some  doubts  as  to  the  ex- 
pediency of  it  just  now.  However,  as  I  am  the  youngest  and 
least  skilled  in  Chinese  of  all  the  members,  I  do  not  expect  to  do 
very  much,  except  to  look  on  and  see  what  is  done.  In  the  mean 
time,  I  expect  to  pursue  my  Chinese  studies,  much  as  at  Ningpo, 
except  that  I  fear  I  shall  lose  in  the  practice  in  the  colloquial  of 
that  place.  The  dialect  here  is  a  good  deal  like  that  of  Ningpo, 
and  yet  so  much  unlike,  that  while  I  can  make  myself  tolerably 
well  understood,  I  find  a  good  deal  of  difficulty  in  understanding 
others  ;  but  a  little  practice  will  assist  me. 

I  left  Ningpo,  May  24th,  but  owing  to  adverse  winds,  had  to  lie 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river  till  the  29th.  I  then  came  by  way  of 
Chapoo  to  this  place  in  three  days,  one  of  which,  being  the  Sab- 
bath, was  spent  at  anchor  in  the  canal.  I  did  not  apply  for  a  per- 
mit to  come  by  the  way  of  Chapoo,  and  met  no  molestation  or 
hinderance  in  passing  through  that  place.  The  route  from  Ningpo 
to  Shanghai,  via  Chapoo,  may  now  be  considered  an  open  route, 
as  several  foreigners  have  passed  both  ways,  and  no  notice  has 
been  taken  of  it  by  the  Chinese  authorities.  It  is  a  great  con- 
venience to  us,  and  is  one  among  the  many  evidences,  how  the 
country  is  opening.  Chang-Chow,  where  the  visit  of  Mr.  Abeel 
and  myself  made  so  much  noise,  some  years  ago,  has  been  vis- 
ited several  times  of  late,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  country 
will  be  as  wide  open  in  a  few  years  as  we  can  desire  it. 

Your  letter  of  December  17th  reached  me  last  week,  also  two 
mission  letters  of  November  and  December 

I  have  referred  so  often  to  my  Dictionary,  that  I  am  afraid  you 
will  be  tired  of  the  very  mention  of  it,  but  I  will  trouble  you  once 
more.  I  have  collected  all  the  significations  of  all  the  words  in 
the  Four  Books,  and  have  concluded  to  go  on  with  the  work  so  as 
to  include  the  Five  Classics,  though  perhaps  I  may  not  include 
the  Le  Ke,  a  large  and  for  the  most  part  very  triding  and  useless 
work.  In  the  Four  Books  there  are  in  all  two  thousand  three 
hundred  and  forty-five  different  characters,  and  in  the  Four  Books 
and  Five  Classics^he  Le  Ke  exsepted,  there  are  rather  more  than 
four  thousand  and'  't\vo  hundred.  I  may  perhaps  send  a  list  of 
them  some  day,  ^•fcwhich  you  will  see  that  the  great  body  of 
the  language  is  tf^fcined  in  them,  i.  e.,  the  great  body  of  the 
really  useful  cliai-acHR*.  Now,  my  plan  is  to  give  each  of  these 
characters  with  its  pronunciation  in  Mandarin,  and  in  the  dialect 


440  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

of  each  of  the  five  ports  now  open  to  foreigners.  Then  to  give 
the  etymology  of  the  word  from  native  dictionaries,  where  I  think 
such  etymology  worth  notice.  Then  to  give  the  different  signifi- 
cations, whether  as  verbs,  nouns,  adjectives,  &c.,  and  at  least  one 
quotation  to  illustrate  each  signification,  with  reference  to  the 
page  and  line  where  found.  This  will  be  the  body  of  the  work : 
but  my  plan  includes  a  good  deal  more,  for  as  the  whole  of  the 
ancient  history,  geography,  &c.  of  China  is  contained  in  these 
Four  Books  and  Five  Classics,  I  want  my  work  to  be  a  sort  of 
"  Classical  Dictionary"  on  these  points.  Hence  I  propose  short 
biographical,  historical,  geographical  sketches  under  the  appro- 
priate characters,  with  references  to  such  native  and  foreign 
authors  as  may  give  the  student  fuller  details.  You  see  this  is  a 
pretty  extensive  plan.  As  to  time,  I  have  no  idea  that  I  can  do  it 
in  less  than  five  years,  without  neglecting  other  works  which  I 
think  are  entitled  to  the  first  place. 

But  here  I  am  met  by  a  great  difficulty.  We  have  few  books 
in  Ningpo.  My  library  is  by  far  the  best  there,  and  yet  it  is  a 
poor  thing  compared  with  some  that  are  in  China,  and  it  is  miser- 
ably deficient  in  works  relating  to  China,  many  of  which  are 
quite  essential  to  me,  in  carrying  on  my  undertaking.  Is  there 
any  way  of  supplying  this  want?  The  books  I  refer  to  would 
cost  I  suppose  some  five  hundred  dollars,  and  would  be  of  great 
service,  not  merely  to  myself,  but  to  all  our  mission,  and  I  think 
ought  to  be  possessed  in  a  mission  like  ours.  I  will  make  out  a 
list  of  them  in  a  few  days,  and  send  to  you  by  next  mail.  I 
mentioned  several  of  them  in  some  former  letters,  which  I  hope 
you  will  be  able  to  procure.  They  are  all  to  be  had  in  Paris  or 
Berlin.  .  .  . 

My  health  is  very  good,  and  I  remain  as  ever, 

Your  affectionate  son, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Shanghai,  June  4th,  1847. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER — 

....  I  am  now  staying  at  Bishop  Boone's,  and  see  as  much 
company  in  a  day  as  I  did  in  Ningpo  in  a  month.  I  do  not  know 
yet  how  long  I  am  to  stay  at  Shanghai,  but  I  suppose  at  least  six 
months,  to  my  great  regret.  I  shall  be  glad  if  it  be  not  a  year. 
The  change  of  scene  and  air  and  employment  has  done  me  good, 
for  I  had  begun  to  "  run  down"  in  Ningpo,  and  lost  both  appetite 
and  flesh.  This,  however,  did  not  alarm  me,  for  it  has  been  so 
every  summer  since  my  coming  to  China.  .  .  . 

The  changes  here  since  my  visit  two  years  ago,  are  quite  sur- 
prising. A  whole  new  town  of  foreign  houses  has  sprung  up  since 
then,  and  some  of  them  are  quite  magnificent.  It  will  soon  be 
the  Canton  of  the  North,  but  give  me  Ningpo  for  a  residence  and 
for  missionary  labors. 


LETTERS.  441 

I  believe  you  do  not  know  anybody  here,  so  I  have  nothing  to 
say  about  them  to-day.  .  .  . 

Ever  affectionately  yours, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Shanghai,  July  23d,  1847. 
REV.  JOHN  C.  LOWRIE — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : — I  am  in  your  debt  for  several  letters, 
which  I  must  now  endeavor  to  repay.  I  have  been  here  nearly 
two  months,  and  as  yet  am  quite  unable  to  give  any  definite  idea 
when  we  shall  get  through.  Owing  to  the  uncertainty  of  travel- 
ling up  and  down  this  coast,  some  members  of  the  Convention  did 
not  get  here  till  the  28th  ult. ;  while  I,  who  was  punctual  to  the 
day,  had  to  wait  on  my  oars  from  the  1st  ult.  After  we  got  to- 
gether, all  went  on  well  for  a  week,  when  we  were  stopped  by  a 
question  which  has  excited  no  little  talk  and  writing  for  some  time, 
"  What  is  the  proper  word  for  God  in  Chinese  ?"  Morrison  and 

Milne  have  adopted  the  word  jjjj±j  Shin,  which,  according  to  the 
best  judgment  I  can  form,  means  God,  or  Divinity  in  general. 
Mr.  Medhurst  for  many  years  used  the  same  term,  and  even  so 
late  as  this  present  year,  1847,  has  published  a  dictionary  in  which 
he  says,  "  The  Chinese  themselves,  for  God,  and  invisible  beings 
in  general,  use  jptj  shin."  But  some  twelve  years  ago  or  more,  he 

began  to  use  f-  ^fe  Shang  Te,  Supreme  ruler,  for  the  true 
God,  and  jjjffj  shin  for  false  god.  Mr.  Gutslaff  also  did  the  same ; 
and  these  two  being  the  best  and  most  experienced  Chinese  schol- 
ars, had  of  course  great  weight.  And  most  of  the  missionaries 
were  carried  away  by  their  example.  For  some  years  past,  how- 
ever, there  has  been  a  good  deal  said  on  the  subject,  and  a  strong 

disposition  manifested  to  return  to  the  old  way.       r~  ttt  Shang  Te 

is  objected  to,  first,  as  being  the  distinctive  title  of  the  national  de- 
ity of  China,  and  hence  something  like  the  Jupiter  of  Rome ;  and 
second,  it  is  not  a  generic  term,  and  cannot  be  used  in  such  pas- 
sages as  "  Chemosh  thy  God,  and  Jehovah  our  God,"  "  If  Jehovah 
be  God,"  <fcc.  "  The  unknown  God,  him  declare  I  unto  you," 
&c.  In  fact  there  are  many  verses  where  the  point  and  emphasis 
rests  on  the  use  of  the  same  generic  word  all  through,  as  in  John 
x.  35,  36,  1  Cor.  viii.  6,  &c.  Hence  of  late  many  of  the  mission- 
aries wish  to  return  to  the  old  word,  and  a  good  deal  has  been 
written  in  the  Chinese  Repository,  and  a  great  deal  said  on  the 
subject.  Dr.  Medhurst,  however,  has  taken  up  the  cudgels  in 
earnest,  and  printed  a  book  of  nearly  three  hundred  pages,  in 

which  he  maintains  that  jRffJ  shin,  never  means  god,  much  less 

•  I'  ~P 

the  supreme  God.  This,  by  the  way,  is  in  opposition  to  three  dic- 
tionaries of  his  own,  published  in  the  last  ten  years.  And  he  fur- 


MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 


442 

ther  maintains  that  ttgf  te,  which  properly  means  ruler,  is  thegen- 
eric  term  for  God  in  Chinese  ;  and  that  |-  ^  Shang  Te,  "High 
or  Supreme  Ruler,"  is  the  proper  word  to  translate  Elohim  and 
Theos,  when  they  refer  to  the  true  God.  So  the  case  stood  when 
the  Convention  met.  We  went  on  with  the  revision  very  well,  till 
we  came  to  Matt.  i.  23,  where  the  word  Theos  occurs.  Dr.  Bi  idg- 
man  then  proposed  that  we  use  the  word  jjjtfj  Shin.  Bishop  Boone 
seconded  this  ;  and  it  was  well  known  that  my  views  coincided 
with  theirs.  Dr.  Medhurst  and  Mr.  Stronach,  took  decided  ground 
for  J-  to^  Shang  Te:  and  so  we  have  now  been  discussing  this 
question  for  three  weeks,  Medhurst  and  Boone  being  chief  speak- 
ers. The  latter  is  a  superior  debater,  and  having  a  very  quick 
and  logical  mind,  pressed  Dr.  Medhurst  so  closely,  that  he  declared 
he  must  have  all  down  in  black  and  white.  We  agreed  to  this, 
and  Bishop  Boone  and  myself  worked  hard  for  a  week,  and  wrote 

out  an  argument  for  jjjjTj  Shin,  covering  twenty-six  folio  pages. 
Mr.  Medhurst,  who  had  spent  five  months  in  writing  his  book, 
and  scarcely  allowed  us  ten  days  to  answer  it,  took  our  answer 
so  seriously,  that  he  said  he  must  have  some  weeks  to  prepare  a 
reply.  So  he  and  Mr.  Stronach  are  now  engaged  on  this.  I 
greatly  fear  that  the  result  of  all  will  be,  that  each  side  will  hold 
their  own  views,  and  Dr.  Medhurst  and  Mr.  Stronach  will  secede. 
In  that  case  there  will  be  two  versions  or  none.  A  large  majority 

of  the  missionaries  in  China,  I  believe,  are  for  jjjffj  Shin;  most  of 
our  missionaries  are  strongly  for  it,  though  one  or  two  hesi- 
tate a  little  ;  all  the  Baptists ;  all  the  Episcopalians,  both  Eng- 
lish and  Americans ;  most  of  the  American  Board  missionaries, 
and  several  even  of  the  London  Missionary  Society.  This  of  it- 
self is  a  strong  proof  for  jfiffl  Shin,  for  it  shows  that  even  the  ac- 
knowledged Chinese  scholarship  of  Medhurst  and  Gutzlaff  is  not 
able  to  command  assent  for  p-  tt^  Shang  Te.  But  I  did  not 

mean  to  write  so  much  on  this. 

.  .  .  This  summer,  so  far,  has  been  very  pleasant ;  nothing  like 
so  hot  as  last  year.  I  am  staying  at  Bishop  Boone's.  where  they 
make  me  feel  very  comfortable.  Hitherto  our  agreement  of  views 
on  the  question  we  have  been  discussing,  has  made  us  the  best  of 
friends.  He  is  of  course  a  strong  Episcopalian,  but  withal  very 
catholic,  and  speaks  very  cordially  of  "  other  churches"  and  their 
ministers  as  "ministers  of  Christ."  He  has  shown  an  excellent 
spirit,  thus  far,  in  the  convention. 

Mr.  Milne  often  speaks  of  you  with  much  kindness.     He  and 
Medhurst  and  Stronach,  are  all  well.     Believe  me  ever, 
Your  affectionate  brother, 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


LETTERS.  443 

Shanghai,  29th  July,  1847. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER — 

....  I  think  it  probable  that  we  shall  have  the  remainder  of  the 
discussions  respecting  the  term  for  God  next  week.  It  is  my  daily 
prayer  that  we  may  be  directed  to  a  right  conclusion.  The  im- 
portance of  the  subject  seems  to  grow  the  more  it  is  examined, 
though  this  is  often  the  case,  even  in  unimportant  matters,  when 
the  mind  is  intently  fixed  on  them  ;  and  the  more  examination  I 
give  it,  the  more  I  feel  satisfied  that  without  the  generic  term  for 
God,  it  will  be  extremely  difficult  to  give  the  Chinese  correct  ideas 
of  our  theology.  If  that  word  be  not  Shin,  I  am  utterly  unable 
to  see  what  it  is.  Dr.  Medhurst  now  says  it  is  Te,  but  this  is  an 
idea  taken  up  within  the  last  five  months,  and  is  in  opposition  to 
all  his  own  dictionaries,  and  translations,  and  to  all  the  experience 
of  all  who  have  ever  written  in  or  on  the  language.  I  make  my 
remarks  in  this  sweeping  style,  because  convinced  of  their  truth. 
Even  the  Chinese  say,  "  We  don't  use  the  word  Te  in  that  sense." 
Oh  for  the  Spirit  of  wisdom  and  grace  to  direct  us  !  It  is  a  mat- 
ter of  much  thankfulness  that  Dr.  Boone's  health  permits  him  to 
take  an  active  part  in  the  discussion ;  as  the  character  of  his  mind 
and  acquirements,  and  his  readiness  as  a  debater,  are  of  the  utmost 
importance  in  discussing  with  Dr.  Medhurst.  Having  no  fondness 
for  such  contests,  I  say  bu£  little ;  but  spend  a  good  deal  of  time 
with  Dr.  B.  in  examining  the  subject  in  the  native  Chinese  authors. 

I  hope  in  the  next  overland  to  be  able  to  give  an  account  of  the 
close  of  the  discussion.  In  the  meantime,  I  suppose  it  will  be  bet- 
ter not  to  publish  anything  about  it,  beyond  the  general  fact  of 
the  Convention  being  in  session. 

I  am  anxious  to  study  the  Manchu  Tartar,  a  language  not 
studied  as  yet  by  any  one  of  the  missionaries,  but  of  great  import- 
ance in  explaining  Chinese,  as  the  French  scholars  have  shown 
in  their  books  published  in  France;  and  which,  as  this  country 
becomes  open  to  us,  and  allows  us  to  go  further  north,  will  be 
found  to  be  of  great  utility.  See  an  article  on  this  subject  in  the 
Chinese  Repository  of  1844,  by  Mr.  Gushing.  For  this,  I  would 
like  the  following  books : — Gerbillon,  Elementa  Lingua  Tartarica ; 
Amyot,  Grammaire  Tartare  Mantchou  ;  Langles,  Dictionnaire 
Tartare  Mantchou  Francais,  3  vols.  4to  ;  Klaproth,  Chrestoma- 
thie  Mandchou  :  Paris,  1828. 

So  far  the  summer  is  very  pleasant,  and  my  health  better  than 
in  any  previous  summer.  .  .  . 

Your  very  affectionate  son,        W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


Shanghai,  August  8th,  1847. 
REV.  JOSEPH  OWEN — 

DEAR  BROTHER  : — I  wrote  to  you  some  time  ago  a  letter  which 
[  hope  you  have  received.     I  now  write  on  a  special  occasion,  and 


444  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

shall  be  very  glad  if  you  can  give  me  a  pretty  full  answer  by 
return  mail.  I  am  here  attending  a  Convention  for  revising  the 
Translation  of  the  New  Testament  into  Chinese.  We  are  divi- 
ded on  one  point  of  great  importance.  Some  of  us  in  transla- 
ting Dvnbx  and  0eoj,  wish  to  use  the  word  jjjftj  Shin,  which  is 

the  Chinese  term  for  God,  or  Divinity  in  general.  It  is  applied  to 
all  their  gods,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  and  to  the  spirits  of 
ancestors,  which  are  always  deified  and  worshipped  by  their  de- 
scendants ;  and  the  being  who  is  supposed  to  be  in  all  their  idols 

is  also  called  jfitfa  Shin.      Hence  it  is  the  generic  term  for  God, 

/li'f1 
just  as  Qnog,  ("  Gods  many  and  Lords  many,  but  to  us  one  God," 

&c.)     Others  of  us  prefer  the  term    |-  ^fe  Shang-te,  which  means 

Supreme  Ruler,  and  is  the  name  or  title  of  the  chief  divinity 
worshipped  by  the  Chinese.  This  is  not  a  generic  term,  nor  ca- 
pable of  being  applied  alike  to  true  and  false  gods,  nor  of  being 
in  the  plural.  Such  is  the  state  of  the  case. 

What  I  want  to  ask  is,  what  is  the  custom  in  India?  Do  you 
find  any  term  applied  by  the  natives  to  all  their  gods  ?  And  do 
you  use  this  term,  and  say,  "  You  worship  many  gods,  but  they 
are  false,  and  we  preach  to  you  the  true  God  ?"  Or  do  you  use 
a  distinct  term,  in  speaking  of  the  true  God,  from  that  used  to 
designate  false  gods  ? 

Some  say  that  in  Arabic  there  is  one  term  for  the  true  God, 
which  is  used  for  him  alone,  and  others  for  false  gods  ;  and  that 
in  such  sentences  as  "  Chemosh  thy  god,  and  Jehovah  our  God," 
(Judges  xi.  24.)  different  words  are  used  to  express  the  word 
DTiibx.  Is  this  so?  Any  light  you  can  give  us  will  be  very 
valuable.  Please  direct  to  me  at  this  place,  care  of  Rt.  Rev. 
W.  J.  Boone.  D.  D.,  Shanghai,  as  I  shall  probably  be  here  when 
your  answer  comes. 

The  question  is  a  very  important  one  here,  and  has  been  a  good 
deal  discussed.  Medhurst,  and  Gutzlaff,  and  John  Stronach,  are 

the  chief  advocates  of  P-  &f  Shang-te ;  Legge,  Bridgman, 
Boone,  and  myself,  are  among  the  supporters  of  jjjffa  Shin,  as  were 

Morrison  and  Milne  before,  and  a  majority  of  the  present  mission- 
aries in  China. 

My  health  is  very  good,  as  is  that  of  most  of  the  members  of 
our  mission,  saving  the  languor  produced  by  the  heat  of  summer. 
Poor  Brother  Speer  has  lost  both  his  wife  and  daughter.  Dr. 
Medhurst  preaches  three  times  every  Sabbath,  and  twice  during 
the  week,  to  audiences  varying  from  one  hundred  to  four  hundred 
persons.  Two  or  three  persons  have  been  baptized  here,  and  as 
many  in  Ningpo,  and,  on  the  whole,  we  are  encouraged. 

With  kind  regards  to  Mrs.  Owen,  and  a  kiss  to  your  son,  be- 
lieve me,  in  haste,  ever 

Affect'onately  yours,          W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


ON   THE    REAL    TRIALS    OP    A   MISSIONARY.  445 

P.  S.  Do  not  delay  to  answer  my  inquiries.  If  you  have  any 
pamphlets  on  this  subject  which  you  can  spare,  I  would  like  to 
see  them. 


Ningpo,  November  3d,  1847. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  ESQ. — 

MY  DEAR  SIR  : — I  send  to  you,  by  this  opportunity,  a  long-  ar- 
ticle, which  I  found  among  the  papers  of  your  much  lamented  son, 
which  were  sent  down  from  Shanghai.  I  have  been  deeply  inter- 
ested in  reading  it,  and  if  published,  it  will  now  speak  with  more 
powerful  effect  to  those  to  whom  it  is  addressed,  because  the  be- 
loved author  has  gone  to  receive  his  reward  where  these  trials  will 
be  known  no  more  forever.  I  have  often  conversed  with  him  on 
the  subject  of  which  the  paper  treats,  and  many  of  the  sentiments 
it  contains,  I  have  heard  him  repeat  frequently  in  conversation — 
sentiments  to  which  I  can  subscribe  with  all  my  heart,  though  to 
many  of  them  not  so  feelingly  as  he  could.  .  .  . 
Affectionately  yours  in  Christ, 

M.  S.  CULBERTSON. 

It  is  high  time  that  the  romance  of  missions  were  done  away. 
It  is  high  time  that  not  merely  the  missionaries  themselves,  but 
the  churches  who  send  them  out  and  pray  for  them,  and  wait  to 
hear  of  their  successes,  should  form  sober  and  just  views  of  the 
various  parts  of  the  missionary  work.  Yet  I  know  of  few  harder 
things  to  be  done  than  this.  Owing  to  improper  and  highly  col- 
ored statements  early  laid  before  the  Christian  public,  and  to  the 
even  yet  too  common  practice  of  presenting  only  one  side  of  the 
picture,  in  platform  speeches,  the  idea  has  become  engrained  in  the 
minds  of  multitudes  of  Christians,  that  the  missionary  work  is 
something  radically  different  from  that  of  the  ministry  at  home. 
Moreover,  there  are  comparatively  few  of  the  members  of  our 
churches  who  appreciate  aright  the  state  of  the  heathen.  Vague 
general  impressions  of  great  wickedness,  are  nearly  all  that  moat 
people  have  of  the  condition  of  idolaters.  One  of  the  worst  conse- 
quences of  this  vagueness  of  impression  is,  that  Christians  form  no 
definite  or  accurate  conception  of  the  nature  of  the  work  to  be 
performed.  They  are  perpetually  applying  to  the  heathen  their 
knowledge  of  what  exists  among  Christian  communities  ;  or  per- 
haps more  properly  it  is  this  :  Many  Christians  think  of  missiona- 
ries as  beings  almost  above  the  ordinary  vicissitudes  and  weak- 
nesses of  humanity  ;  as  having  already  "  begun  to  enjoy  heaven  ;" 
and  they  think  of  the  heathen  as  certainly  possessing  much  of  the 
general  knowledge  which  is  so  commonly  possessed  at  home,  that 
no  one  thinks  of  recollecting  where  he  learned  it. 

Now  the  influence  of  these  two  mistakes  is  most  injurious.  It 
is  easy  for  the  missionary  to  see  the  injury  they  produce1,  but  it  is 
not  so  easy  to  remedy  them.  I  know  of  hardly  any  way  in  which 


446  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

they  can  be  remedied,  except  by  the  missionary  opening  up  and 
spreading  out  his  own  heart  and  his  own  feelings  before  the 
Christian  public.  Could  our  brethren  at  home  but  see  the  heathen 
as  we  see  them,  and  share  our  feelings  as  we  look  upon  them,  a 
more  sober  and  practical  view  of  things  would  soon  possess  the 
minds  of  the  churches.  It  may  be  said,  "  Well,  this  is  a  very  sim- 
ple affair.  Why  do  you  not  thus  tell  us  what  you  think  and  feel  ?" 
Because,  brethren,  simple  though  it  seems,  it  is  one  of  the  hardest 
and  most  perilous  things  a  man  can  attempt  to  do.  When  a 
m;m  talks  of  himself  and  of  his  own  feelings,  he  is  almost  sure 
to  be  betrayed  into  egotism,  and  egotism  will  rarely  fail  to  give 
disgust.  It  is  a  very  hard  thing  for  a  man  to  talk  of  his  own  say- 
ings and  doings,  without  mingling  a  little  more  of  himself  in  what 
he  says  than  he  ought ;  and  the  consciousness  of  this  keeps  many 
a  man  on  mere  generalities  or  descriptions,  which  excite  little 
interest,  while  his  own  feelings,  which  would  thrill  through  your 
very  hearts,  are  carefully  and  purposely,  and  in  many  cases  wisely 
kept  in  the  recesses  of  his  own  bosom. 

It  is  a  blessing  to  any  Missionary  Society  when  it  possesses 
among  its  missionaries  one  or  more  of  those  humble,  simple- 
minded,  sincere  laborers,  who  can  talk  of  themselves,  and  reveal 
their  own  feelings  without  offence,  or  giving  rise  to  the  thought 
that  they  are  seeking  to  make  themselves  conspicuous.  Such  a 
man  was  the  late  Rev.  R.  W.  Sawyer.  Few  communications 
more  deeply  interesting  than  his  have  appeared  in  our  Missionary 
Chronicle ;  and  the  reason  mainly  was,  that  the  feelings  of  the 
man  were  simply  and  truthfully  depicted  in  his  journals.  There 
was  in  them  no  effort  at  display ;  those  who  knew  the  man  would 
never  suspect  him  of  such  a  motive.  Had  it  pleased  God  to  spare 
his  life,  we  might  have  hoped  in  a  few  years  to  have  had  a  series 
of  communications  from  him,  which,  stating  simply  the  true  con- 
dition of  the  heathen,  and  giving  his  own  earnest  feelings  along 
therewith,  would  have  rectified  the  views  of  many  respecting  the 
character  of  missionary  labors  in  heathen  lands.  But  he  has  gone 
to  an  early  grave,  and  to  his  crown  in  the  heavens. 

The  writer  of  this  is  not  competent  to  do  what  Brother  Sawyer 
might  have  done.  He  feels  that  he  does  not  possess  that  meek, 
unambitious  spirit,  and  that  for  him  to  attempt  to  write  thus 
fully  and  frankly,  would  be  to  expose  himself  to  the  charge  of  os- 
tentatiously parading  his  own  emotions,  a  thing  that  would  defeat 
the  very  object  of  such  communications.  Yet  being  deeply  anx- 
ious to  correct  some  of  the  misconceptions  that  prevail,  I  shall  en- 
deavor in  this  essay  to  give,  in  a  somewhat  general  form,  some  of 
the  facts  and  feelings  with  which  myself  and  other  missionaries 
have  been  conversant.  If  in  doing  this,  I  should  after  all  fall  into 
the  error  above  referred  to,  it  will  only  be  an  additional  proof  of 
the  truth  of  the  remark  ;  and  may  1  not  hope  that  those  who  may 
detect  the  error,  or  the  sin,  will  at  least  be  convinced  by  it,  that 
missionaries  are  men  of  like  passions  with  others,  and  must  be 


ON   THE    REAL    TRIALS    OF    A    MISSIONARY.  447 

sustained  by  God's  grace,  and  the  prayers  of  God's  people,  that 
they  may  rightly  prosecute  their  work  among  the  heathen. 

Much  misapprehension  exists  at  home  as  to  the  nature  of  the 
trials  of  missionaries  in  heathen  lands.  Even  yet  there  are  those 
who  fancy  that  they  consist  almost  wholly  in  temporal  or  bodily 
privations.  Now  the  truth  is,  that  though  there  are  outward  (rials 
experienced  by  missionaries,  and  some  which  would  call  forth 
many  complaints  from  some  who  dwell  in  their  "ceiled  houses"  at 
home,  yet  in  most  missions  these  are  the  trials  that  give  least  un- 
easiness. In  fact,  in  most  mission  stations,  the  missionary  lives  in 
a  state  of  bodily  comfort,  such  as  your  backwoods'  ministers  and 
domestic  missionaries  might  envy.  The  new  missionary,  with  his 
romantic  feelings  fresh  in  him,  and  his  ignorance  of  the  wants  of  a 
strange  climate,  is  sometimes  surprised  at  the  state  of  comfort  in 
which  he  finds  his  predecessors  living ;  and  cases  have  occurred, 
where,  on  the  details  of  their  mode  of  life  being  communicated  at 
home,  no  small  ill-feeling  and  dissatisfaction  has  been  produced 
among  warm  friends  of  missions.  1  will  not  deny  that,  in  some 
cases,  more  time  and  more  expense  have  been  bestowed  by  the 
missionary,  in  making  his  nest  comfortable,  than  ought  to  have 
been  given ;  but  I  am  persuaded  that,  were  the  churches  fully 
aware  of  the  state  of  things  produced  by  the  climate,  character  of 
the  people,  and  nature  of  the  work  to  be  performed,  they  would 
feel  that  too  little  attention  has  been  given  by  the  missionaries  to 
their  bodily  condition.  The  remark  is  frequently  made  in  the 
East,  by  those  who  have  longest  lived  here,  that  American  mis- 
sionaries are  too  economical ;  and  I  certainly  know  of  cases,  where 
the  spending  of  a  few  more  dollars  in  procuring  attendance  of  ser- 
vants and  bodily  comforts  would  have,  humanly  speaking,  averted 
many  an  hour  of  suffering  and  sickness,  and  perhaps  would  have 
prevented  some  of  those  "  returns  of  missionaries"  of  which  so 
many  complaints  have  been  made. 

In  hot  climates,  good  houses  and  a  sufficient  number  of  ser- 
vants, are  not  mere  matters  of  luxury.  I  have  brought  on  myself 
an  atttack  of  sickness,  by  going  on  foot  only  a  short  distance  in 
the  middle  of  the  day,  when  prudence  would  have  ordered  me  to 
spend  a  quarter  or  a  half  dollar,  and  go  in  a  chair  carried  on 
m<;n's  shoulders.  It  would  have  been  economy  too,  for  the  time 
lost  by  the  sickness  was  of  far  more  value  than  the  few  cents 
saved  by  the  course  adopted.  Some  of  the  complaints  made  at 
home  respecting  the  extravagance  of  missionaries  strike  us  here, 
as  inconsistent  with  the  expectations  entertained  by  those  who  make 
them.  We  are  sent  here,  having  among  our  secondary  objects,  to 
teach  civilization  ;  and  some  complain  that  we  live  in  a  civilized 
style.  We  are  sent  here  to  introduce  among  the  people  some  of 
those  refinements  that  adorn  civilized  life;  and  yet,  (here  are  act- 
ually some  who  complain  of  a  missionary's  wife  for  cultivating 
flowers  in  her  garden,  or  hanging  pictures  round  her  room ! 
Possibly  tod,  some  of  these  austere  censors  would  object  to  the 


448  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

practice  that  some  of  us  have,  of  spending  an  evening  occasionally 
in  veiling  at  a  friend's,  where  lively  conversation  occupies  the 
time,  and  little  or  no  direct  allusion  is  made  to  the  great  work  in 
which  we  are  engaged.  I  do  not  refer  to  these  things  in  a  cap- 
tious or  fault-finding  spirit.  Probably  there  are  few  who  make 
such  complaints,  and  those  more  from  thoughtlessness  than  from 
settled  distrust  of  the  self-denying  and  laborious  spirit  of  those  who 
are  the  objects  of  their  censures. 

The  object  of  the  remainder  of  this  essay  will  be,  to  give  some 
of  the  real  trials  of  a  missionary.  I  do  not  do  this  as  complaining 
of  them,  but  partly  for  the  sake  of  setting  those  right,  who  may 
entertain  romantic  and  consequently  erroneous  views  ;  and  chiefly 
to  beg  an  interest  in  the  prayers  of  those  who  read.  Knowing 
our  trials,  you  will  know  what  we  need.  Knowing  what  we 
need,  you  will  not  fail  to  beseech  God  to  supply  our  necessities. 

The  missionary's  first  trial  is  commonly  in  the  language  he  has 
to  learn,  and  that  in  several  respects.  He  comes  to  his  station 
and  feels  himself  on  missionary  ground.  He  is  astonished  and 
almost  sickened  by  sights  of  idolatry  which  he  had  heard  of,  in- 
deed, at  home,  but  which  he  now  sees  with  his  own  eyes.  His 
heart  is  overflowing  with  the  desire  to  testify  against  the  sins  he 
sees,  and  burning  with  zeal  to  urge  upon  the  people  repentance 
towards  God,  and  faiih  towards  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Oh  for 
the  tongue  of  an  angel  to  speak  unto  them  the  words  of  life  ! 
Alas  !  my  brother,  your  mouth  is  closed,  your  tongue  is  tied.  You 
cannot  speak  with  even  "stammering  lips"  in  this  "other  tongue." 
What  would  you  riot  give  now  for  the  gift  of  tongues  !  But  ther^  is 
no  help  for  it,  and  restraining  your  zeal  as  you  may,  or  employing 
it  in  prayer  to  God,  since  you  cannot  speak  to  men,  you  sit  down 
to  your  books,  with  your  heathen  teacher  at  your  side,  and  work 
away,  in  a  hot  climate,  sustained  by  hope.  You  are  all  anxiety 
to  learn  the  language,  and  you  toil  away,  day  and  night,  forget- 
ting or  neglecting  the  advice  and  warning  of  your  more  expe- 
rienced predecessors.  The  stock  of  health  and  the  vigor  you  have 
brought  from  your  native  land,  and  your  sea  voyage,  sustain  you, 
and  you  feel  no  particular  need  of  extra  care  to  preserve  your 
health.  Months  pass  away.  If  you  are  in  India,  you  begin  to 
talk  some  in  less  than  a  year; -if  in  China,  during  your  second 
year.  But  about  this  time  the  impression  steals  over  you,  that 
you  have  not  quite  so  much  bodily  vigor  as  you  once  had  ;  and  if 
you  are  thoughtful,  the  fact  that  you  catch  yourself  reclining  on 
a  couch  at  times,  when  in  your  own  country  you  would  never 
have  thought  of  such  an  indulgence,  leaves  the  unpleasant  con- 
vi'"Jon  on  your  mind,  that  though  all  things  in  the  way  of  hard 
study  may  be  possible  or  lawful,  yet  certainly  "all  things  are  not 
expedient ;"  and  that  if  you  wish  for  length  of  years  and  prolonged 
usefulness  in  your  heathen  abode,  it  must  be  at  the  sacrifice  of 
some  of  the  diligent  and  close  application  that  your  own  climate 
would  altow,  and  your  own  country  would  require. 


ON   THE    REAL    TRIALS    OP    A    MISSIONARY.  449 

Sooner  or  later  you  begin  to  talk  with  your  teacher  and  serv- 
ants, and  by  degrees  you  get  them  to  understand  that  you  really 
have  not  come  out  to  make  money,  or  seek  pleasure,  or  gain 
honor.  Perhaps  they  will  think  that  you  are  some  sort  of  a  re- 
ligious devotee,  who  expects  to  merit  heaven  by  the  performance 
of  good  works,  and  that  you  have  chosen  the  profession  of  a  mis- 
sionary as  that  in  which  your  energies  are  to  be  spent.  How  often 
have  I  heard  it  said  of  me,  that  I  was  the  son  of  a  very  rich  man, 
who  came  out  here  to  see  the  world,  and  amuse  myself!  Others, 
again,  could  not  be  persuaded  that  I  was  not  the  agent  of  our 
government,  with  some  confidential  errand.  Others,  again,  that 
at  the  longest  I  should  remain  but  four  or  five  years,  and  then  go 
back  home.  If,  surmounting  all  these  misapprehensions,  you  at 
last  get  those  around  you  to  understand  your  motive,  you  will 
scarcely  avoid  being  cut  to  the  heart  by  finding  that  they  do  not 
appreciate  it  in  the  slightest  degree.  Although  you  have  come 
out  to  do  them  good,  and  your  heart's  desire  and  prayer  is,  that 
they  may  be  saved,  yet  you  will  be  highly  favored  indeed  if  you 
do  not  find  yourself  cheated  by  your  servants,  and  ridiculed  by 
your  teacher  behind  your  back,  and  regarded  as  an  "  outside  for- 
eigner," and  fair  game  by  the  community  in  general. 

You  will  find,  too,  I  hat  the  study  of  a  hard,  dry  language  has 
a  disheartening  effect  on  your  zeal  and  ardor  as  a  missionary. 
It  is  not  easy  to  study  out  declensions,  and  cases,  and  tenses,  and 
conjugations,  and  particles,  and  to  wade  through  dull  tomes  of 
heathen  learning,  nonsensical  speculations,  and  unintelligible 
metaphysics,  and  at  the  same  time  to  keep  up  the  freshness  and 
simplicity  of  spirit  and  the  earnestness,  that  are  necessary  in 
speaking  face  to  face  with  an  unconverted  man.  The  two  things 
are  certainly  not  incompatible  ;  but  it  will  not  be  surprising,  if, 
when  engaged  in  such  studies,  under  the  influence  of  an  exhaust- 
ing climate,  you  find  yourself  losing  some  of  that  ardor  you  felt 
when  your  foot  first  rested  on  a  heathen  soil,  and  your  eye  first 
saw  men  bowing  down  to  idols.  And  as  by  this  time  you  will 
have  had  the  sad  proof  which  experience  gives,  that  the  hearts  of 
the  heathen  are  not  naturally  open  to  receive  the  gospel,  and  that 
they  are  more  ready  to  laugh  at  your  blunders  in  pronunciation 
than  to  practise  your  exhortations  to  piety,  it  will  not  be  strange 
if  you  find  some  disinclination  to  open  your  mouth  at  all.  As 
this  is  an  unexpected  difficulty,  it  may  cost  you  many  a  painful 
reflection  ere  you  find  it  removed. 

Here  is  another  difficulty  which  meets  you  in  the  language,  and 
one  which  you  never  dreamed  of  when  you  were  preaching  or 
talking  on  religion  at  home.  You  are  learning  a  heathen  lan- 
guage, and  it  has  few  terms  to  express  Christian  ideas.  What 
word  will  you  use  to  speak  of  God  ?  There  is  no  word  in  the 
language  which  is  not  polluted  by  associations  with  idolatry.  If 
you  use  the  name  of  the  highest  divinity  known  to  the  people, 
they  will  think  you  favor  their  own  system  of  religion.  If  you 

29 


450  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

use  the  abstract  term  for  God,  they  will  ask,  "  "What  God  do  you 
"mean  ?"  and  perhaps  will  run  over  the  names  of  half  a  dozen  of 
their  principal  gods,  to  see  if  it  be  not  some  one  of  these  you  in- 
tend. You  say,  no ;  you  mean  "  the  true  God."  Why,  they 
never  thought  of  such  a  thing  as  a  false  god  !  They  will  very 
willingly  allow  that  your  God  is  a  true  God,  but  they  expect  equal 
toleration  for  their  own  ;  and  you  will  find  it  no  easy  matter  to 
convince  them  that  when  you  speak  of  God,  you  mean  only  one. 
Ho\v  will  you  tell  them  of  Jesus,  that  dear  name  on  which  all 
your  hopes  are  centered  ?  It  is  a  stranger  to  them,  and,  I  speak  with 
reverence  and  with  sorrow,  the  mention  of  it  excites  no  more  emo- 
tion in  their  minds,  than  of  Caesar,  or  Pompey,  or  William,  or  James. 
How  will  you  tell  them  of  the  Spirit  I  They  have  not  so  much 
as  heard  whether  there  be  a  Holy  Ghost.  Nay,  so  materialized  has 
become  their  language,  that  it  is  very  doubtful  whether  you  can 
find  a  word  that  means  Spirit  in  it.  What  will  you  do  for  "justi- 
fication," "  adoption,"  "  sanctification,"  "  effectual  calling,"  "  elec- 
tion," "  salvation,"  "  faith,"  and  fifty  other  terms,  without  which 
no  sermon  is  ever  composed,  and  no  prayer  ever  offered  at  home? 
You  will  not  find  them.  You  will  be  surprised  to  find  that  even 
the  most  experienced  missionaries  are  not  perfectly  agreed  as  to 
what  are  the  best  terms  to  be  used;  and  you  will  at  last  find  your- 
self obliged  to  settle  down  on  the  conviction  that  the  language  of  the 
people  must  be  converted  and  Christianized,  as  well  as  the  people 
themselves. 

You  have  not  the  gift  of  tongues,  but  must  learn  the  language 
by  a  slow  and  laborious  process  ;  for  the  dictionaries,  grammars, 
and  other  helps  for  learning  it,  are  not  quite  so  good  as  those 
for  learning  Latin  and  Greek.  When  it  is  learned,  you  find  it 
is  not  an  instrument  all  ready  for  use ;  but  that  you  must 
mould  and  polish  it,  to  make  it  express  ideas  that  it  never  expressed 
before. 

But  we  will  suppose  that  these  first  difficulties  are  overcome  ; 
and  though  you  are  still  far  from  being  a  ready  speaker,  yet  you 
can  delay  no  longer,  but  must  deliver  your  message,  whether  men 
will  hear,  or  whether  they  will  forbear.  You  have  your  first  ser- 
mon prepared.  You  have  studied  it  carefully.  You  have  prayed 
over  it.  You  have  wept  over  it.  You  prepare  your  house,  or 
chapel,  or  whatever  it  may  be.  You  open  your  doors,  and  with  a 
heart  not  wholly  calm  and  at  ease,  you  wait  for  your  hearers. 
Do  they  come,  "  like  clouds,  and  like  doves  to  their  windows  ?" 
Not  at  all.  if  your  house  is  on  a  frequented  thoroughfare,  they 
come  tumbling  in.  as  if  to  a  theatre,  or  a  puppet-show.  If  in  a 
more  retired  situation,  they  drop  in  by  twos  and  threes,  to  see  the 
stranger,  or  to  hear  and  tell  of  some  new  thing.  After  getting 
something  like  order  established,  you  commence  to  talk  to  them  ; 
and  if  you  get  on  better  than  you  expected,  you  are  much  gratified. 
Some  few  give  a  fixed  attention  ;  and  yet  if  your  own  eyes  are 
about  you,  you  must  see  that  even  they  are  occasionally  puzzled 


ON   THE    REAL    TRIALS    OF    A    MISSIONARY.  451 

to  know  what  you  mean.  The  most  of  your  audience,  however, 
stare  vacantly  ;  or  listen  as  they  would  to  the  chattering  of  a 
monkey,  or  the  voice  of  a  strange  animal.  Perhaps  some  one 
may  audibly  say  he  does  not  understand  you  ;  or  perhaps  others 
may  praise  your  correct  pronunciation,  and  declare  that  you  must 
be  a  very  talented  man  to  be  able  to  speak  their  language  so  well. 
But  probably  in  the  midst  of  your  discourse,  it  may  be,  whilst  you 
are  delivering  some  of  your  most  earnest  exhortations,  two  or  three 
get  up  and  walk  out ;  or  one  man  commences  an  audible  conver- 
sation with  his  neighbor  ;  another  smokes  his  pipe  ;  and  another 
takes  nuts  out  of  his  pocket,  and  very  deliberately  employs  him- 
self in  munching  them. 

Nevertheless,  you  are  encouraged.  Your  mouth  is  at  last 
opened  ;  and  you  pour  out  to  God  the  fulness  of  a  grateful  heart, 
that  to  one  who  is  less  than  the  least  of  all  saints  is  this  grace 
given,  to  preach  among  the  Gentiles  the  unsearchable  riches  of 
Christ.  On  the  next  Sabbath  you  go  to  your  place  with  rather 
more  confidence  and  hope.  But  perhaps  it  is  a  rainy  day,  and  no 
one  comes,  and  you  are  dreadfully  cast  down. 

After  a  few  days'  experience  you  begin  to  be  accustomed  to  the 
fluctuations  and  "irbulence  of  a  heathen  audience,  and  to  feel  less 
anxiety  as  to  you,  own  ability  to  speak  to  them.  You  can  now 
observe  some  things  better  than  at  first.  One  thing  that  you  soon 
notice,  is,  that  few  come  a  second  time.  Once  is  enough,  when 
they  find  you  are  talking  of  subjects  that  will  neither  fill  their  bel- 
lies, nor  clothe  their  backs,  nor  put  money  in  their  purses.  Prob- 
ably enough,  a  few  will  come  more  than  once  ;  but  rarely  will 
any  come  regularly.  You  might  care  less  for  this,  if  those  that 
did  come,  would  stay  to  hear  all  you  have  to  say  at  one  time  ; 
but  unless  you  use  some  art,  or  assume  some  authority,  or  lock 
your  door,  you  will  probably  find  that  half  of  those  who  heard  the 
beginning,  will  not  hear  the  end  of  your  discourse  ;  while  all  that 
some  will  get,  might  not  inappropriately  be  compared  to  the  "  two 
legs,  or  a  piece  of  an  ear,"  that  the  shepherd  taketh  out  of  the 
mouth  of  the  lion. 

You  find  too,  that  your  hearers  are  utterly  ignorant  of  most  of 
the  first  principles  of  the  oracles  of  God.  It  will  take  you  some 
time  to  appreciate  the  thick  darkness  that  covers  them.  There  is 
"  a  covering  over  them,  a  veil  spread  over  the  nations,"  of  which 
those  educated  in  a  Christian  land  can  form  little  conception.  No 
child  in  your  Sabbath- schools  at  home  is  so  ignorant,  as  is  every 
man  and  woman  to  whom  you  preach  here.  Nor  is  this  strange. 
No  mother  ever  taught  them  a  Catechism  ;  no  church-going  bell 
ever  sounded  in  their  ears  ;  no  Sabbath  ever  disturbed  their  cease- 
less round  of  business,  amusement,  and  sin.  They  have  bowed 
down  to  idols,  until  they  think  their  gods  are  like  themselves;  and 
when  you  attempt  to  speak  to  them  of  Him  who  made  the  heavens, 
you  bring  strange  things  to  their  ears.  Talk  of  Jehovah,  and  they 
at  once  suppose  he  is  your  national  god,  or  perhaps  some  god  of 


452  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

the  hills,  but  not  of  the  valleys.  Talk  of  Jesus  and  the  Resurrec- 
tion, and  they  will  say  you  are  "  a  setter  forth  of  strange  gods." 
They  never  heard  of  Jesus.  Tell  them  he  is  the  Son  of  God. 
and  they  begin  to  ask  about  God's  wife,  and  how  many  children 
he  has.  Tell  them  of  Abraham,  and  Moses,  and  David,  and  Eli- 
jah, and  Paul,  and  John,  and  the  names  are  totally  new.  They 
never  heard  them  before,  and  they  awaken  no  associations  in  their 
minds.  Tell  them  of  the  wonders  of  the  creation  and  the  deluge, 
of  the  plagues  of  Egypt  and  the  flames  of  Sinai,  the  desert  and 
the  Jordan,  and  the  Promised  Land,  and  if  they  find  no  difficulty 
in  believing  you,  it  is  because  their  own  books  tell  them  tales  as 
wonderful  as  these,  and  believed  with  as  implicit  a  faith  as  the 
Bible  is  by  us.  Tell  them  of  the  miraculous  conception  of  our 
Lord,  and  they  are  rather  pleased  to  hear  it ;  for  in  their  histories 
there  are  several  instances  of  the  same  nature  recorded.  Miracles 
make  little  impression  on  their  minds,  for  they  have  read  of  many 
equally  wonderful,  and  their  minds,  untrained  to  weigh  evidence 
and  balance  testimonies,  place  the  same  confidence  in  lying  le- 
gends as  in  the  Scriptures  of  truth.  .  What  hold  have  you  on  such 
minds  as  these  ?  And  when,  leaving  the  sphere  of  miracles  and 
external  evidences,  you  come  to  the  holy  law  and  the  internal  evi- 
dences of  religion,  which  after  all  are  the  only  ones  you  have  to 
depend  on  here,  you  are  met  by  new  difficulties.  It  is  said  of  the 
Indians  of  America,  that  when  discovered  by  Columbus,  they  were 
so  ignorant  of  the  character  and  power  of  their  new  visitors,  that 
they  played  with  the  most  dangerous  tools,  and  caught  the  naked 
sword  blades  with  their  hands,  not  knowing  that  they  would  cut.  It 
is  so  here.  Wield  the  "  sword  of  the  Spirit,"  as  you  will,  if  it  is  you 
alone  that  wields  it,  it  will  make  no  impression.  Their  seared 
consciences  will  suffer  its  sharpest  edge  and  turn  it  aside,  and  they 
will  smile  under  your  most  solemn  appeals,  apparently  unconscious 
that  the  message  can  be  for  them.  You  find  few  among  your 
hearers  in  the  United  States,  who  cannot  understand  the  allusions 
to  Scripture  which  you  make,  and  not  unfrequently  it  happens 
that  a  bow  drawn  at  a  venture,  sends  a  shaft  to  the  obdurate  heart. 
In  the  life  of  the  devoted  McCheyne.  it  is  said  that  he  once  took 
shelter  during  a  shower  in  a  forge,  where  a  man  was  attending  a 
furnace.  Pointing  to  the  blazing  flame,  he  said  to  one  of  the 
workmen,  "What  does  that  remind  you  of?"  That  one  simple 
sentence,  for  he  said  no  more,  was  under  God  the  means  of  his 
conversion.  But  the  conversion  of  a  heathen  from  hearing  such 
a  remark,  would  be  a  miracle.  He  would  not  understand  the  al- 
lusion. It  would  excite  no  fears  in  his  breast.  Hence  you  must 
be  a  teacher  of  babes — but  no,  for  that  would  be  a  luxury  com- 
pared with  this.  You  must  be  a  teacher  of  those  who  are  as  igno- 
rant of  God's  truth  as  babes  are,  and  as  full  of  sin  as  years  and 
heathenism  can  make  them,  and  with  hearts  as  firm  as  a  stone, 
yea,  as  hard  as  a  piece  of  the  nether  millstone.  If  you  are  a 
Christian,  if  you  desire  the  glory  of  God,  if  you  desire  the  salva- 


ON   THE    REAL    TRIALS    OF   A   MISSIONARY.  453 

tion  of  men,  you  cannot  labor  among  such  a  people  as  this,  with- 
out some  feelings  of  sorrow,  which  a  table  scantily  supplied,  or  a 
patched  coat,  or  even  a  bed  of  sickness,  has  never  told  you  of. 

Our  fluctuating  audiences  and  constant  new-comers  keep  us 
always  on  the  very  simplest  truths  ;  for  few  of  those  who  heard 
the  sermon  on  the  last  Sabbath,  come  to  hear  the  one  of  to-day. 
Hence  the  same  tale  must  be  repeated  every  day,  and  without 
much  care  to  present  the  oft-told  tale  in  a  new  light,  the  few  who 
may  have  come  more  than  once  or  twice,  become  dissatisfied 
at  the  repetition  of  the  same  truths,  and  come  no  more.  In  the 
midst  of  all  these  discouragements,  it  will  be  very  strange,  if  after 
a  few  months  or  even  less,  you  do  not  feel  the  thought  rising  up, 
"  Well,  there  is  no  use  in  talking  to  a  people  like  this." 

Depend  upon  it,  my  brother,  you  will  not  find  yourself  in  heaven, 
with  the  garments  of  your  sinful  mortality  or  liability  to  Satan's 
temptations  left  behind  you,  merely  because  you  are  a  missionary 
to  the  heathen.  While  you  are  thus  discouraged  by  seeing  no 
fruit  to  your  labors,  and  apparently  no  effect  produced,  you  will 
not  fail  to  find  Satan  busy  with  you,  and  your  own  heart  second- 
ing his  assaults.  You  must  not  think  that  he  will  suffer  you  to 
batter  the  walls  where  he  has  so  long  entrenched  himself,  without 
an  answering  charge.  The  captives  of  the  mighty  and  the  prey 
of  the  terrible  one,  will  not  be  so  easily  let  go.  He  will  come  to 
you,  and  tell  you  that  you  are  doing  no  good,  and  never  will  do 
any  ;  that  you  had  better  cease  at  once,  or  go  where  you  can  do 
more.  He  will  fix  your  mind  so  strongly  on  the  difficulties,  as  to 
keep  you  from  seeing  the  promises.  He  will  fix  your  attention  on 
the  weakness  of  the  earthen  vessel,  and  keep  you  from  looking  to 
Him  whose  is  the  power  and  the  glory ;  and  at  times  you  will  feel 
such  a  repugnance  to  open  your  lips  before  a  heathen  audience, 
such  a  shrinking  from  the  work,  that  like  Jonah  when  he  fainted 
and  wished  in  himself  to  die,  you  will  say,  "  It  is  better  for  me  to 
die  than  to  live." 

How  long  you  may  have  to  labor  in  thus  gathering  out  the 
stones,  and  clearing  away  the  jungle,  is  of  course  not  for  man  to 
say.  One  might  indeed  conjecture,  that  it  will  be  until  you  are 
brought  fully  to  feel,  not  only  your  own  utter  helplessness,  but 
also  to  long  for  the  blessing  and  presence  of  the  Spirit,  "with 
groanings  that  cannot  be  uttered."  As  long  as  there  remains  in 
you  any  part  of  that  spirit  which  will  not  give  all  the  glory  of  suc- 
cess to  God,  you  can  hardly  expect  a  blessing  on  your  labors ;  and 
perhaps  God  may  see  fit  to  humble  you,  by  long  failure  of  appar- 
ent success,  until  your  only  wish  be,  "  Let  what  may  become  of 
the  poor  worm,  but  oh  God,  glorify  thy  name."  But  in  the  mean 
time,  if  your  heart  is  at  all  right,  it  will  be  no  small  trial  to  labor 
thus.  I  speak  not  of  the  mere  feeling  of  anxiety  lest  the  expec- 
tations of  friends  at  home,  anxious  to  hear  of  your  success,  should 
be  disappointed.  There  may  be  some  with  whom  this  is  a  main 
motive  to  exertion ;  but  it  is  one  of  such  inferior  moment,  com- 


454  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

pared  with  that  of  commending  one's  self  to  God  as  a  faithful 
steward,  that  I  should  be  sorry  t)  see  much  prominence  given  to 
it.  But  there  are  other  considerations  connected  with  such  labors. 
There  is  that  of  "hope  deferred  which  maketh  the  heart  sick," 
and  there  is  that  of  loneliness. 

Bear  with  me  a  moment.  You  look  over  your  congregations, 
and  there  are  some  whose  faces  beam  back  to  you  the  emotions 
you  feel  in  your  own  hearts.  There  are  some  who  love  Jesus  ; 
some  who  are  awakened  ;  some  who  are  serious  ;  some  who  are 
inquiring.  You  go  out  among  your  people,  and  you  find  at  least 
here  and  there  a  family  altar  erected.  You  may  grieve  as.  you 
pass  by  the  dram-shop ;  but  you  never  have  to  avert  your  face  as 
you  pass  an  idol's  temple.  You  go  into  the  burying-grounds,  and 
can  say,  "  This  one  sleeps  in  Jesus,  and  that  loved  friend  I  shall 
meet  in  heaven."  You  look  over  a  wide-spreading  valley,  as  you 
climb  some  hill  in  your  pastoral  visitations,  and  as  you  look  over 
the  scattered  houses,  you  can  say,  "  In  this  and  that  house  there 
is  one  who  can  say, '  Christ  is  mine.'  "  How  sweet  are  some  of  the 
reflections  excited  by  such  objects,  in  the  "  Dairyman's  Daughter  !" 
And  there  are  few  neighborhoods  in  your  highly  favored  land, 
where  the  faithful  pastor  is  not  privileged  to  make  some  such  re- 
flections. You  are  not  alone.  The  Spirit  of  God  moves  among 
you  ;  and  the  very  air  you  breathe  wafts  sighs,  and  prayers,  and 
praise  to  heaven. 

It  is  not  so  here.  Our  congregations  are  dead.  We  have  no 
Christian  families  to  visit.  It  is  not  pleasant  to  go  through  the 
crowded  burial  grounds  here,  or  to  look  out  over  the  plains. 
Death  reigns.  An  idol  temple  deforms  every  scene.  The  air  is 
loaded  with  the  smoke  of  incense  offered  to  devils.  The  breezes 
waft  sounds  of  idolatrous  worship  to  our  ears.  We  look  over  a 
region  where  there  are  thousands  and  myriads  of  people,  and  we 
feel  that  we  are  alone  here.  Oh,  the  loneliness,  the  utter  desola- 
tion of  soul,  I  have  sometimes  felt  in  walking  through  these 
crowded  streets,  the  very  dogs  barking  at  me  for  a  foreigner,  and 
not  one  among  all  these  thousands  to  whom  I  could  utter  the  name 
of  Jesus  with  any  hope  of  a  response.  Dry  bones  !  Very  many 
in  the  open  valley  !  Very  dry  !  We  are  walking  among  decay- 
ing skeletons,  and  grinning  skulls,  and  death  reigns.  This  is 
loneliness.  Brethren,  I  have  read  many  accounts  of  the  destitu- 
tions and  sorrows  of  domestic  missionaries  in  the  West,  and  the 
times  have  not  been  few  in  which  the  unbidden  thought  has  filled 
my  heart,  and  almost  found  utterance  from  my  mouth,  "  Give  me 
your  privileges  and  I  will  share  your  sorrows."  What  are  food 
and  drink  compared  to  trials  such  as  these  ? 

How  long !  Oh  Lord,  how  long !  these  "  long  desolations  ?" 
Satan  mocks !  As  with  a  sword  in  my  bones  he  reproacheth 
me.  He  saith  daily  unto  me,  "  Where  is  your  God  ?" 

It  may  be  that  some,  on  reading  these  lines,  will  feel  an  emotion 
of  surprise,  not  unmixed  with  censure.  "  Is  it  a  missionary  who 


ON   THE    REAL    TRIALS    OP   A    MISSIONARY.  455 

I 

writes  thus?  Are  these  the  joys  that  missionaries  feel?  Are 
these  the  complaints  they  utter?  We  thought  they  had  been 
men  of  stronger  faith,  of  firmer  nerve  than  this  !"  It  may  be  you 
have  thought  so.  Many  do,  forgetting  that  we  are  men  of  like 
passions  with  yourselves,  and  that  we  have  not  a  healthful,  vigor- 
ous public  sentiment  to  support  us  as  you  have.  We  have  tempta- 
tions like  yours,  perhaps  worse,  without  your  abundant  external 
means  of  guarding  against  them.  Our  souls  are  polluted  by  the 
abominations  with  which  we  are  surrounded.  We  have  to  look 
on  idolatry  and  vice  as  common  things,  and  to  accustom  ourselves 
to  see  with  comparatively  little  concern  things  that  would  deprive 
you  of  your  rest.  We  must  do  this,  for  human  nature  could  not 
always  bear  up  under  the  fresh  horror,  with  which  the  new  mis- 
sionary looks  on  these  dark  places  so  filled  with  the  habitations  of 
cruelty.  We  must  also  more  or  less  feel  the  influence  of  the 
public  sentiment  of  these  heathen  lands ;  which,  so  unlike  yours, 
like  the  hot  blasts  of  summer  that  weaken  our  bodies,  blows  over 
our  souls  with  its  sickening  influences,  like  the  poisonous  breath 
of  Ill-pause  in  the  Holy  War. 

Say  that  we  have  converts.  They  do  not  speedily  rise  to  the 
stature  of  full-grown  men,  as  so  many  of  yours  do.  Far  more 
than  ourselves,  they  are  under  the  influence  of  the  evil  public 
spirit  that  prevails  here.  It  is  hard  for  them  to  rise,  as  you  see 
men  rising.  We  have  no  such  richly  stored  libraries  of  books  of 
devotion  to  spread  before  them  as  you  have.  No  Baxter,  or 
Flavel,  or  Doddridge  ;  nay,  as  yet,  hardly  even  the  blessed  Bible 
to  put  in  their  hands.  We  have  not  the  Sabbath  school,  and  the 
bible  class,  the  monthly  tract  visitor,  the  faithful  elder,  the  mother 
in  Israel,  and  the  goodly  company  of  the  church,  to  assist  the 
pastor  in  his  work,  as  you  have ;  for  almost  the  only  Christian 
example  they  can  see  is  our  own. 

These  discouragements  and  trials  are  inseparable  from  the 
nature  of  our  work.  Some  of  them  will  wear  away  after  a  few 
years,  and  others  will  give  place  to  those  of  a  different  character ; 
but  in  the  commencement  of  a  new  mission  there  must  be  such  as 
these.  Some  missionaries  will  feel  them  more  than  others  ;  but 
as  yet  I  have  met  with  none  who  would  not  more  or  less  sympa- 
thize in  the  most  of  what  is  written  above. 

Fathers  and  brethren,  mothers  in  Israel,  and  sisters  in  Christ, 
make  your  own  comments  and  reflections  on  what  has  been  been 
written ;  but  forget  not  to  pray  for  those  who  are  often  trou- 
bled on  every  side,  though  not  distressed ;  perplexed,  though  not 
in  despair ;  persecuted,  but  not  forsaken ;  cast  down,  but  not 
destroyed. 

W.  M.  LOWRIE. 


CHAPTER    X. 

LETTERS  FROM   MISSIONARIES,  AND   OTHERS,   ON   THE   DEATH  AND   CHARACTER 
OF   THE   REV.   W.    M.   LOWRIE. 

From  the  Rev.  A.  W.  Loomis,  of  the  Ningpo  Mission. 

Ningpo,  August  25th,  1847. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  ESQ. — 

HONORED  AND  VERY  DEAR  SIR: — It  has  become  my  painful 
duty  to  act  on  this  occasion  as  the  bearer  of  mournful  tidings,  and 
may  you,  my  dear  sir,  and  your  family  be  enabled  to  say,  "It  is 
the  Lord,  let  him  do  as  seemeth  him  good."  I  need  not  attempt 
to  hide  anything  from  you:  for  your  God,  who  has  enabled  you 
cheerfully  to  consecrate  one  after  another  of  your  dear  children  to 
his  service  here  below,  will  enable  you  submissively  to  resign  them 
when  they  are  called  to  his  service  above.  I  trust  you  will  be  able 
to  say,  "  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away :  blessed 
be  the  name  of  the  Lord." 

Our  brother,  Walter  M.  Lowrie.  whom  we  loved,  is  no  more,  for 
God  has  taken  him.  We  have  confidence  that  our  loss  is  his  un- 
speakable gain.  The  stroke  has  fallen  heavily  upon  us,  yet  He 
who  loved  him  infinitely  more  than  we  could,  saw  fit  to  take  him 
to  himself. 

The  news  of  this  melancholy  event  reached  here  yesterday, 
brought  by  Mr.  Lowrie's  long  tried  and  faithful  servant,  and  by 
another  Chinaman  in  the  employment  of  the  mission.  [Mr.  Loo- 
mis  then  mentions  that  this  man  had  been  sent  from  Ningpo  to 
Shanghai,  where  Mr.  Lowrie  was  attending  the  Convention  for  the 
revised  translation  of  the  New  Testament,  requesting  his  return  to 
the  station  at  Ningpo,  with  reference  to  certain  occurrences  at  that 
station.]  Mr.  Lowrie,  with  these  two  attendants,  set  out  from 
Shanghai  on  Monday,  August  16th,  by  the  canal  to  Chapoo. 
They  arrived,  all  well,  at  Chapoo,  on  the  morning  of  the  18th. 
A  boat  was  engaged,  one  of  the  regular  passenger  boats,  and  on 
the  evening  of  the  18th  all  went  on  board  with  their  baggage,  to 
be  in  readiness  for  an  early  departure  next  morning.  During  the 
day  of  the  18th  inst.,  he  had  been  about  through  the  city  with- 
out anything  unpleasant  having  occurred  in  his  treatment  by  the 
Chinese.  On  the  morning  of  the  19th,  the  boat  in  which  they 


LETTER    OP    THE    REV.    A.    W.    LOOMIS.  457 

had  taken  passage  set  sail  very  early.  The  wind  was  unfavor- 
able, being  strong  from  the  south.  Accordingly  it  was  necessary 
to  beat,  and  the  boat  sailed,  as  is  supposed,  about  twelve  miles  in 
a  south-easterly  direction  ;  when  suddenly  a  vessel  was  seen  bear- 
ing down  upon  them  very  rapidly.  It  was  a  craft  like  those  which 
belong  to  Chapoo,  with  three  masts  and  eight  oars.  At  the  sight 
of  this  vessel  the  boatmen  and  other  Chinamen  (passengers)  in  the 
boat,  were  greatly  terrified,  and  were  for  turning  back,  but  Mr. 
Lowrie  endeavored  to  allay  their  fears.  As  they  drew  nearer,  he 
showed  a  small  American  flag  which  he  had  with  him,  but  still 
they  came  on,  and  soon  discharged  their  firearms.  Upon  this,  he 
went  to  the  inner  part  of  the  boat,  having  been  previously  stand- 
ing in  the  open  part  of  the  boat  in  the  bow.  When  the  pirates 
came,  they  boarded  the  boat  with  swords  and  spears,  and  began 
to  thrust  and  beat  all  who  stood  in  their  way ;  especially  they 
seemed  to  seek  out  and  maim  the  sailors,  or  the  strong  and  able- 
bodied,  to  put  an  end  to  their  interference.  All  agree  in  stating  that 
they  did  not  see  a  single  blow  inflicted  upon  Mr.  Lowrie.  He  is 
said  to  have  seated  himself  on  a  chair  or  box,  and  remained  qui- 
etly ;  and  when  they  were  breaking  open  a  trunk  with  their  heavy 
spears,  he  took  out  the  key  and  gave  it  to  them,  saying,  "  There 
is  no  need  to  break  it  open,  here  is  the  key."  The  pirates  con- 
tinued their  work  of  plunder,  breaking  open  everything  and  taking 
out  such  things  as  they  wished,  and  stripping  even  the  clothes 
from  the  Chinamen.  Yet  they  did  not  touch  anything  that  was 
on  him  ;  even  his  watch,  and  perhaps  seven  or  eight  dollars 
that  were  in  his  pocket,  they  did  not  take.  They  stripped  and 
beat  his  servant,  which  he  requested  them  to  stop,  as  the  poor 
man  was  sick.  Being  probably  unable  to  stay  and  witness  such 
cruelty,  he  then  went  out  and  sat  on  the  bow  of  the  boat. 

Before  they  had  finished  plundering,  something  seemed  to  have 
awakened  a  fear  in  the  minds  of  the  pirates,  lest  when  he  reached 
Shanghai  they  would  be  reported  to  the  authorities,  whereupon 
they  debated  for  a  moment  whether  they  would  kill  him  or  throw 
him  alive  into  the  sea.  They  hastily  determined  upon  the  latter, 
and  two  men  seized  him ;  and  they  being  unable  to  effect  their 
purpose,  another  came  up,  and  he  was  thrown  overboard.  One 
of  the  boatmen,  who  was  near  to  him  during  his  last  moments, 
states  that  while  the  pirates  were  ransacking  the  boat,  he  was  en- 
gaged, in  reading  his  pocket  Bible,  and  when  they  seized  him  on 
deck,  he  had  it  still  in  his  hand.  As  they  were  in  the  act  of  cast- 
ing him  into  the  sea,  he  turned  himself  partially  around,  and 
threw  his  Bible  upon  the  deck.*  He  had  also  the  presence  of 
mind,  as  he  was  going  overboard,  to  throw  off  his  shoes,  and  he 
jwam  about  for  some  time  in  the  water.  He  was  seen  to  turn 

V 

*  ThufBible  was  afterwards  found  and  taken  to  Ningpo.  It  is  a  copy  of  Bagster's 
12mo.  dRtion  in  Hebrew,  Greek,  and  English.  It  is  the  same  copy  he  preserved  with 
BO  muclv  difficulty  and  care  in  his  shipwreck  in  the  Harmony. 


458  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

several  times,  as  if  he  would  struggle  towards  the  boat ;  but  as 
one  of  the  pirates  stood  with  a  long  pole,  having  an  iron  hook  at 
the  end,  in  his  hands,  ready  to  strike  him  when  he  approached, 
he  desisted,  and  soon  sank.  Such  has  been  the  sad  end  of  our 
dear  brother.  .  .  . 

I  will  not  add  to  your  distress  by  alluding  to  the  deep  gloom 
caused  by  this  most  melancholy  news.     May  our  Lord  remember 
us  in  this  bereavement.     May  his  parents  and  felatives  be  able  to 
say,  "  Though  he  slay  me  yet  will  I  trust  in  him." 
With  much  respect, 

I  am  yours  in  the  Lord, 

A.  W.  LOOMIS. 


From  the  Right  Rev.  W.  J.  Boone,  D.  Z>.,  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Mission  at  Shanghai. 

Shanghai,  August  31st,  1847. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  ESQ.  : — 

MY  DEAR  SIR  : — I  cannot  resist  the  strong  impulse  of  my 
heart  to  commune  with  you,  and  to  mingle  my  sorrows  and  tears 
with  yours  at  this  time.  Our  merciful  and  loving  heavenly  Fa- 
ther has  seen  good,  in  his  infinite  wisdom,  to  afflict  us  all  in  a 
very  tender  point.  To  you  especially,  my  dear  sir,  he  has  sent  a 
very  heavy  trial.  May  his  grace  be  abundantly  bestowed  to  en- 
able you  to  bear  it  with  entire  submission  to  his  will.  Indeed,  my 
dear  sir,  he  is  too  wise  to  err :  too  good  to  do  what  is  unkind. 

In  his  infinite  wisdom  it  has  seemed  good  to  him  to  take  to 
himself  your  beloved  Walter  ;  and  that,  too,  under  circumstances 
which  have  wrung  our  hearts  with  anguish.  My  heart's  prayer 
for  you  is,  that  when  you  hear  the  sad  story,  you  may  be  enabled 
to  say  with  the  aged  Eli,  "  It  is  the  Lord  ;  let  him  do  whatsoever 
seemeth  to  him  good." 

He  has  done  so,  and,  in  this  case,  not  in  wrath,  but  in  mercy 
and  in  loving  kindness.  He  has  removed  your  dear  son  from  his 
vineyard  on  earth  to  a  nobler  service  in  his  sanctuary  above. 

His  work  was  done.  The  time  of  his  removal  arrived,  and  the 
circumstances  thereof  I  am  persuaded  were  ordered  for  the  benefit 
of  us  who  survive,  rather  than  for  anything  to  be  effected  thereby 
on  our  dear  brother  himself. 

You  will  no  doubt  receive  full  particulars  from  your  brethren 
at  Ningpo,  but  lest  their  letters  may  not  reach  you  by  this  over- 
land mail.  I  will  mention  them.  You  are  aware  that  he  was  at 
Shanghai  as  a  member  of  the  translating  committee.  On  Satur- 
day, the  14th  August,  he  received  a  letter  from  his  brethren  at 
Ningpo,  requesting  him  to  join  them  immediately.  [Dr.  Boo 
here  relates  the  particulars  of  this  melancholy  event,  as  given  IrT 
the  letter  of  Mr.  fcoomis.]  .  .  .  His  servant  escaped  to  Ningpo,  and 
communicated  these  particulars,  which  we  devoutly  thank  God 


LETTER    OF    THE    RIGHT    REV.    W.    J.    BOONE,    D.  D.          459 

he  has  permitted  to  reach  us,  so  that  we  hear  of  him  to  the  last 
moment,  and  that  these  violent  men  did  not  mangle  his  body. 

Oh,  my  dear  brother,  I  feel  that  these  are  sad  tidings  to  write 
to  an  affectionate  father  of  a  son,  and  of  such  a  son  ;  but  for  our 
consolation  we  can  surely  say  that  the  finger  of  God  was  never 
more  manifest  in  the  removal  of  any  of  his  servants  than  in  (his 
case.  To  my  mind,  the  very  slightness  of  the  secondary  causes 
upon  which  his  life  and  death  seemed  to  turn,  manifest  the  clear- 
ness of  the  Divine  Decree  to  take  him  to  his  Heavenly  Home. 

This  event  has  thrown  my  family,  who  had  the  privilege  to  en- 
joy his  company  for  the  last  two  months  and  a  half  of  his  earthly 
existence,  into  the  deepest  affliction.  Dearly  as  I  know  he  was 
beloved  by  the  mission  with  which  he  was  connected,  yet  I  be- 
lieve no  one  in  China  mourns  his  loss  as  I  do.  We  were  together 
daily  for  two  months  and  a  half,  laboring  together  in  what  we 
both  believed  to  be  the  most  important  matter  connected  with 
our  Master's  cause  in  China,  with  which  we  had  ever  been  con- 
nected. 

Circumstances  occurred  when  he  was  under  my  roof  which 
drew  our  hearts  very  closely  together,  and  which  now,  as  I  look 
back  upon  them  after  what  has  just  transpired,  I  cannot  but  re- 
gard as  a  merciful  preparation  to  him  for  his  sudden  death. 
Whilst  he  was  with  me  I  was  twice  threatened  with  attacks  of 
the  brain,  which  I  thought  would  prove  fatal  in  a  few  days.  On 
these  occasions  we  had  much  conversation  on  the  subject  of  a  sud- 
den summons,  and  how  a  Christian  should  live  and  feel  in  view 
of  such  an  event.  The  person  whose  call  was  supposed  to  be 
near  at  hand  was  myself.  We  never  dreamt  that  he  was  so  near 
the  confines  of  eternity  ;  but  he  entered  into  the  subject  with  me 
with  all  his  heart.  Never  have  I  heard  any  one  converse,  who 
had  a  more  delightful  state  of  child-like  simplicity  of  heart  in  re- 
lying upon  the  Saviour.  I  remember  particularly  our  conversa- 
tion, when  we  were  sitting  alone  one  moonlight  night,  upon  my 
terrace.  We  were  speaking  of  the  case  of  a  man  removed  from 
his  field  of  labor  in  the  prime  of  early  manhood,  when  he  gave 
promise  of  daily  increasing  usefulness.  His  train  of  thought  was 
striking,  and  much  impressed  my  mind  ;  it  was  intended  for  con- 
solation to  me.  God  grant  it  may  prove  so  to  you,  my  dear  sir, 
when  you  read  it.  He  said  he  could  not  view  this  matter  as  most 
Christians  seemed  to  do.  He  could  not  call  it  mysterious,  pecu- 
liarly distressing,  as  was  commonly  done.  On  the  contrary,  to 
his  mind,  there  was  something  peculiarly  cheering  to  survivors  in 
such  a  death.  In  the  case  of  an  old  man,  he  was  removed  in  the 
common  course  of  events.  Even  to  our  eyes  his  work  was  done. 
But  not  so  with  the  case  of  which  he  was  speaking.  The  pecu- 
liarity of  it  was,  that  there  was  promise  of  much  more  to  be  done 
here  for  the  glory  of  Christ.  This  world,  however,  we  may  be 
well  assured,  is  but  the  first  stage  of  our  existence :  God's  children 
are  employed  in  services  infinitely  more  glorious,  and  that  con- 


460  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

duce  much  more  to  the  glory  of  his  Holy  name,  in  the  sanctuary 
above,  than  any  employments  entrusted  to  them  on  earth.  Should 
we  not  then,  said  he,  use  their  early  manhood,  their  manifest  ca- 
pacity, for  usefulness  in  the  vineyard  here  below, — indeed,  every 
argument  which  can  be  pleaded,  derived  from  their  prospective 
usefulness  to  the  Church  on  earth,  to  assure  ourselves  that  God 
has  called  them  to  a  more  than  common  post  of  usefulness  in  the 
Church  triumphant.  His  modesty  and  deep  humility  would  have 
prevented  his  applying  this  to  his  own  death,  but  from  my  heart  I 
adopt  it  as  the  true  interpretation  of  our  Heavenly  Father's  deal- 
ing with  him  and  with  his  cause  in  China  in  this  instance. 

If  this  be  the  true  view  of  the  case,  most  cheering  indeed  is 
the  assurance  it  affords  us  of  his  present  happy  state  and  glorious 
position. 

No  one  in  China  promised  to  do  more  for  the  cause  of  our  Di- 
vine master  than  he.  Just  brought  out  by  his  brethren's  choice 
to  a  participation  in  the  work  of  revising  the  translation  of  the 
Scriptures,  this  call  upon  him  was  having  the  happiest  effect  in 
overcoming  his  disposition  to  modest  retirement,  and  making  him 
feel  the  necessity  that  was  laid  upon  him,  to  take  a  more  promi- 
nent stand  among  those  whose  attainments  in  the  language  quali- 
fied them  to  participate  in  all  of  a  general  character  that  was 
doing  to  advance  the  Saviour's  cause.  In  the  unhappy  division 
of  opinion  which  exists  with  respect  to  the  proper  word  by  which 
to  render  Theos  [God]  he  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  discussion, 
and  wrote  on  this  subject  one  of  the  ablest  articles  that  appeared 
in  the  Chinese  Repository. 

He  was  daily  growing  in  power,  and  the  field  of  usefulness  was 
continually  opening  wider  and  wider  before  him ;  but  God  had 
work  for  him  above  this  vale  of  tears,  and  now  leaves  us  mourn- 
ing and  sorrowing,  to  do  the  great  work  without  his  aid.  O,  that 
by  the  Spirit's  gracious  influences  he  may  more  than  supply  this 
loss  to  us,  and  that  the  work,  for  which  our  beloved  brother  was 
laboring  with  all  his  powers  when  he  was  taken  away,  may  be  so 
accomplished  that  his  own  most  Holy  name  may  be  glorified 
thereby. 

We  had  promised  each  other,  that  if  my  life  was  spared,  we 
would  labor  much  together  to  set  the  plain  doctrines  of  the  cross, 
by  means  of  tracts,  before  this  people ;  but,  alas !  he  is  not,  for 
God  has  taken  him. 

May  we  not  suppose  that  the  object  of  our  gracious  Saviour,  in 
giving  us,  in  addition  to  the  general  promise  of  the  resurrection 
of  all  at  the  last  day,  the  special  assurance  that  "  the  sea  shall 
give  up  its  dead,"  is  to  assuage  the  grief  of  those  who  have  been 
bereaved  as  you  are,  and  whose  precious  ones  lie  buried  in  the 
deep. 

Believe  me,  my  dear  sir,  very  sincerely  yours,  in  the  hope  of  a 
common  resurrection  with  our  beloved  brother, 

WM.  J.  BOONE. 


LETTER  OF  THE  REV.  W.  SPEER.  461 


From  the  Rev.  W.  Speer,  of  the  Canton  Mission. 

Canton,  September  25th,  1847. 
MY  DEAR  MR.  AND  MRS.  LOWRIE — 

By  this  mail  you  will  receive  intelligence  of  an  event  which 
has  bowed  the  hearts  of  the  little  company  of  brethren  here  with 
the  deepest  sorrow.  How  may  we  expect  it  to  affect  the  parents 
of  one  so  worthy  of  their  love,  and  doubly  endeared  by  his  sacri- 
fices of  home  and  the  advantages  of  a  Christian  country  for  his 
duty  to  Christ. 

To  the  Lord,  my  dear  friends,  you  gave  your  son,  to  be  dis- 
posed of  entirely  for  His  glory.  It  was  a  contract  in  which  there 
was  no  proviso  for  long  life  or  any  other  particular  favor ;  but  a 
whole  consecration  of  your  most  precious  gift,  your  own  child,  to 
live,  to  toil,  to  die,  in  such  way  and  time  as  God  should  decree  in 
the  exercise  of  infinite  wisdom  and  benevolence  to  our  race.  I 
have  been  made  myself  deeply  to  feel  that,  in  the  great  moral 
government  of  the  Almighty,  sacrifices  of  life  or  happiness  or 
property  of  individuals  are  small  matters,  compared  to  the  divine 
schemes  for  the  everlasting  salvation  of  multitudes,  and  finally  of 
our  whole  race.  Kings,  even,  and  the  interests  of  empires  are  as 
"small  dust."  The  dreamy  hopes,  joys,  and  sorrows  of  this  pre- 
paratory existence  will  sink  into  the  utmost  littleness,  when  be- 
held from  the  midst  of  the  glorious  and  vast  mansions  whose 
doors  are  yet  unopened  to  us. 

Your  departed  son  was,  you  will  allow  me  to  say,  one  of  the 
ornaments  of  our  branch  of  the  Church,  one  of  the  missionaries 
most  dear  to  its  heart,  and  whose  labors  and  writings  had  at- 
tracted most  attention  and  interest.  To  our  mission  in  China  his 
loss  is  at  present  irreparable.  His  mind  was  cultivated  ;  his  aims 
truly  noble.  He  gave  promise  of  the  largest  usefulness.  My 
former  personal  friend  and  College-mate,  residing  in  the  same 
house,  and  members  of  the  same  Literary  Society,  I  had  become 
much  attached  to  him  and  honored  his  character.  I  feel  in  my 
heart  the  greatness  of  the  loss.  He  had  written  to  me  twice, 
within  the  short  time  I  have  been  here,  letters  full  of  affection 
and  piety.  I  can  realize  in  some  measure  how  severe  will  be 
the  blow  to  you,  his  parents.  I  can  only  point  you,  my  loved, 
respected  friends,  to  the  same  source  of  consolation  that  I  have 
found  under  afflictions  that  almost  crush  the  heart.  My  all  is 
gone ;  a  wife  whose  tender  and  patient  love  for  me,  and  whose 
many  virtues,  my  pen  cannnt  express  ;  my  lovely  infant  daughter, 
just  putting  on  the  sweet  smiles  of  intelligence  and  affection ; 
and  I  am  left  alone.  But  I  feel  that  they  are  taken  by  GOD. 
They  are  in  heaven,  really,  now,  in  heaven;  and  very  happy. 
They  were  removed  also  to  make  me  more  holy :  and  above  all 
in  the  accomplishment  of  His  unsearchable  plans  for  the  re- 
demption of  the  heathen,  which  are  beyond  my  comprehension, 


462  MEMOIR   OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

but  which  I  "  shall  know  hereafter."  The  sources  of  consolation 
to  you  are  the  same.  It  is  my  fervent  prayer  that  God  would 
mercifully  sanctify  them  to  your  comfort. 

I  desire  to  present  my  most  affectionate  regards  to  Mrs.  Lowrie, 
the  memory  of  whose  kindness  to  Mrs.  Speer  and  myself  is  grate- 
ful, and  to  whom  I  ought  before  this  to  have  written  particu- 
larly. .  .  . 

I  remain,  with  sincere  affection  and  respect, 

Yours  in  the  work  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 

WILLIAM  SPEER. 


RESOLUTIONS    OF    THE    CANTON    MISSION. 

Whereas,  We  have  heard  with  the  deepest  sorrow  of  the  death 
of  our  beloved  brother,  the  Rev.  Walter  M.  Lowrie,  of  the  Ningpo 
Mission  ;  and  whereas,  it  has  pleased  an  infinitely  wise  and 
gracious  Providence  to  remove  one  who  was  so  much  beloved  and 
esteemed,  and  who  was  so  well  qualified  by  his  eminent  talents, 
his  ripe  scholarship,  sound  judgment,  and  devoted  piety,  to  be 
eminently  useful,  and  an  efficient  laborer  in  this  great  field : 
therefore, 

Resolved  as  follows,  viz., 

1.  That  while  with  deep  humiliation  and  resignation  we  ac- 
knowledge the  hand  of  God,  and  say,  O  Lord,  "  thy  will  be  done," 
yet  we  do  deeply  deplore  the  death  of  our  dear  brother  as  a  great, 
loss  to  our  missions  in  China ;  as  a  great  loss  to  the  cause  of  God 
here  where  the  harvest  is  so  great,  and  the  laborers  so  few ;  and 
as  a  great  loss  to  the  Church,  of  which  he  was  an  able  and  faith- 
ful minister. 

2.  That  we  will  affectionately  cherish  the  memory  of  our  de- 
parted brother,  his  services,  his  worth,  his  devotedness  and  zeal ; 
and  that  we  thank  God  for  the  precious  memorial  of  faith  and 
patience  he  has  left  us. 

3.  ThiJ.  whilst  our  hearts  are  deeply  pained  that  he  should 
have  perished  by  the  hands  of  violent  men,  yet  we  rejoice  in  the 
assurance,  "  blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord  from  hence- 
forth, yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their  labors, 
and  their  works  do  follow  them." 

4.  That  we  present  to  the  respected  and  esteemed  father  and 
family  of  our   beloved   brother  our  tenderest   sympathy   in    this 
heavy  affliction  ;  and  assure  them  of  our  constant  and  fervent 
prayers  that  abundant  grace  may  be  given  to  support  and  com- 
fort th,em  under  this  trying  bereavement. 

5.  That  to  our  beloved  brethren  of  the  Ningpo  Mission   we 
express  our  deep  sympathy  and  condolence  in  the  severe  afflic- 
tions through  which  they  have  been  called  to  pass  ;   and  assure 
them  of  our  constant  and  earnest  prayers  in  their  behalf;  that 
God  would  mercifully  and  graciously  guide  and  support  them. 


LETTER    OF    THE    REV.   JOHN   LLOYD.  463 

and  cause  all  these  things  to  work  together  for  their  own  good  and 
the  furtherance  of  the  gospel. 


From  the  Rev.  John  Lloyd,  of  the  Amoy  Mission* 

Amoy,  September  17th,  1847. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  ESQ.. — 

MY  DEAR  MR.  LOWRIE  : — Yesterday  I  received  the  sad,  the 
very  sad  intelligence  of  Walter's  death.  T  need  not  tell  you  how 
much  I  was  affected  by  this  afflictive  event.  Walter  was  very 
dear  to  me.  I  loved, him  with  a  brother's  love.  He  was  my 
dearest  earthly  friend.  We  were  born  into  God's  glorious  family 
about  the  same  time.  We  entered  the  church  on  the  same  day.  We 
formed  the  resolution  of  devoting  ourselves  to  the  work  of  foreign 
missions  about  the  same  time.  We  often  took  sweet  counsel  to- 
gether, and  walked  to  the  house  of  God.  We  often  talked  together 
of  God's  kind  dealings  with  us.  We  often  spoke  of  our  hopes.  I 
recollect  one  instance  of  this  kind  which  occurred  at  Jefferson  Col- 
lege. We  went  out  into  the  groves  to  commune  with  each  other, 
and  as  we  talked  by  the  way,  our  hearts  did  burn  within  us.  Wal- 
ter often  alluded  to  this  walk  and  talk  in  the  groves  of  Canonsburgh 
in  his  letters,  and  spoke  of  it  as  an  antepast  of  the  joys  of  heaven. 
All  this  intimacy  with  him  while  we  were  in  college  gave  me  op- 
portunities of  learning  his  worth.  I  knew  his  inward  mind  on  those 
subjects  which  were  nearest  and  dearest  to  his  heart,  and  I  can 
most  freely  say  that  the  more  I  knew  him  the  more  I  loved  him. 

After  Walter  left  college,  I  saw  no  more  of  him  till  I  met  him 
in  Macao,  in  October,  1844.  In  the  providence  of  God  our  meet- 
ing was  of  short  duration.  I  soon  left  that  place  for  Amoy.  What 
I  saw  of  him  there,  gave  me  higher  notions  of  his  piety,  of  his 
sound  judgment,  and  of  his  intellectual  character,  than  ever  I 
entertained  before.  My  love  and  admiration  could  not  but  be 
increased.  I  heard  him  preach  and  address  religious  meetings 
only  two  or  three  times.  He  was  very  solemn,  and  his  solemnity 
was  contagious,  if  I  may  use  the  expression.  It  possessed  the 
rare  quality  of  radiating  from  its  centre,  and  entering  the  hearts 
of  all  around.  Hence  his  discourses,  which  were  plain  and  prac- 
tical, always  took  hold  of  the  feelings  as  well  as  the  intellect. 
One  never  wearied  listening  to  them,  and  one  always  left  the 
meeting  feeling  that  he  had  received  both  instruction  and  spiritual 
benefit  from  what  he  had  heard. 

My  dear  Mr.  Lowrie,  it  is  not  my  intention  to  write  an  eulogy 
upon  Walter;  but  I  cannot  but  feel  that  you,  and  I,  and  the  Church 
of  God  have  sustained  a  very  great  loss.  This  loss  more  nearly 

*  This  able  and  beloved  Missionary  has  also  finished  the  work  which  his  Master  had 
for  him  to  do  in  China.  He  died  at  Amoy,  of  typhus  fever,  on  the  Gth  day_  of  Decem- 
ber, 1848.  Thus  after  a  short  interval,  these  two  friends  met,  as  we  trust,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Saviour,  to  be  separated  no  more  forever. 


464  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

concerns  you,  and  though  1  cannot  fully  appreciate  a  parent's 
tender  feelings  and  yearnings  in  behalf  of  his  beloved  offspring, 
yet  I  can  realize  in  some  degree  the  depth  of  that  grief  which  the 
news  of  this  severe  affliction  will  produce  in  your  mind.  I  most 
deeply  sympathize  with  you.  My  heart  bleeds  for  you.  I  feel 
totally  unfitted  to  administer  consolation.  The  blow  is  too  heavy 
to  admit  of  alleviation  by  anything  that  1  can  say.  I  can  but 
weep  with  you  over  the  loss  sustained.  But,  though  I  cannot 
afford  relief  to  your  mind  in  this  season  of  sorrowful  bereavement, 
yet  there  is  one  who  sympathizes  with  you,  and  who  is  fully  able 
to  console  you  in  this  hour  of  heavy  affliction.  That  Jesus,  whom 
Walter  loved,  knows  the  depth  of  your  grief.  He  knew  it  before 
the  sad  event  occurred.  He  has  consolation  for  all  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  affliction.  He  is  a  tender  comforter.  The  bruised 
reed  will  he  not  break,  the  smoking  flax  will  he  not  quench.  To 
him  you  can  go  with  all  confidence.  He  is  waiting  to  hear  your 
cries.  What  a  privilege  God's  dear  children  possess ! 

When  God  afflicts  them,  he  does  it  as  a  tender,  loving  parent — 
he  does  it  for  their  good.  This  affliction  is  for  our  good.  I  feel  it 
to  be  intended  for  my  good.  I  had  wrong  views  in  relation  to 
God's  work  in  China;  I  almost  felt  that  it  could  not  go  forward 
without  Walter.  I  felt  that  we  must  have  him  to  control  and 
counsel  us,  to  manage  our  operations,  to  rebuke  us  when  wrong, 
to  encourage  us  when  right.  I  felt  that  we  needed  him  to  oversee 
the  press,  to  prepare  tracts,  to  assist  in  revising  the  Scriptures.  I 
knew  that  God  had  endowed  him  with  a  noble  intellect,  had  given 
a  sound  judgment,  had  bestowed  upon  him  much  grace,  and  had 
eminently  fitted  him  for  a  high  station  in  this  great  harvest  field. 
I  knew  all  this,  and  felt  that  we  could  not  spare  him.  But  God's 
thoughts  and  ways  are  not  as  ours.  He  has  taught  me  that  he 
can  do  without  us,  even  the  best  of  us.  He  has  no  need  of  our 
poor  assistance.  When  he  sees  fit,  he  calls  us  to  himself.  He 
has  called  Walter  thus.  We  idolized  him.  God  has  rebuked  us. 
But  he  has  taken  Walter  to  himself.  This  is  my  consolation.  I 
have  no  doubts  on  this  point.  I  feel  as  sure  as  I  can  on  any  sub- 
ject based  on  moral  evidence,  of  the  safety  of  Walter.  He  is 
happy  beyond  conception.  We  mourn  his  loss  and  feel  our  spirits 
depressed,  but  he  is  beyond  the  influence  of  sorrow's  pains.  Wal- 
ter wrote  me  not  long  ago  a  letter,  in  which  he  spoke  freely  of  his 
feelings.  He  was  mourning  over  inbred  corruption,  and  found  all 
his  hope  in  Christ.  I  thought  for  a  moment  of  sending  this  letter 
to  you,  but  what  need  is  there  for  this?  You  have  many  letters 
from  him,  the  spirit  and  sentirrent  of  which  leave  your  own  mind 
free  from  all  doubt  as  to  Walter's  personal  interest  in  the  blood  of 
the  precious  Saviour. 

I  love  to  think  of  Walter.  Many  of  the  sweetest  spots  of  my 
existence  teem  with  delightful  recollections  of  him.  It  may  seem 
strange  but  it  is  true,  that  the  thought  of  being  saved  with  Wal- 
ter and  dwelling  with  him  forever  in  heaven,  has  often  filled  my 


LETTER   OF    THE    REV.    T.    L.    MCBRYDE.  465 

soul  with  peculiar  emotions  of  joyful  satisfaction,  and  has  aroused 
into  life  a  sweeter  affection  for  the  blessed  Saviour,  who  was 
pleased  to  give  me  a  title  to  the  same  inheritance  which  he  has 
conferred  on  him.  Walter  has  already  entered  upon  the  enjoy- 
ment of  that  inheritance,  and  is  now  employed  with  the  patriarchs 
and  prophets,  with  the  apostles  and  martyrs,  and  with  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  first  born  in  heaven,  sounding  the  high  praises  of 
him  who  loved  him  and  washed  him  in  his  own  blood,  and  made 
him  a  king  and  a  priest  unto  God  and  his  father.  He  was  ripe 
for  the  kingdom  and  his  work  was  done,  and  so  God  took  him  to 
himself,  and  now  employs  him  in  the  upper  sanctuary  in  a  higher 
and  holier  service. 

Would  that  I  could  fill  up  the  void  which  this  sad  bereavement 
will  make  in  your  parental  heart !  But  I  have  hopes  that  God 
will  sustain  you.  He  enabled  you  to  give  up  Walter  with  cheer- 
fulness to  the  work  of  Missions.  He  enabled  you  to  bear  up  under 
the  distress  of  a  long  separation.  Surely  he  will  not  now  forsake 
you  in  this  the  extremity  of  your  grief!  I  trust  you  will  feel 
that  the  cause  of  missions  still  needs  your  aid ;  that  the  Church 
has  work  for  you  still  to  do  ;  and  especially  that  God,  by  this  dark 
and  mysterious  dispensation  of  his  providence,  is  preparing  you 
for  more  self-denying  labors  in  the  station  which  he  has  called 
you  to  occupy.  God  may  intend  by  this  event  to  accomplish  more 
for  that  cause  which  Walter  so  dearly  loved,  than  (speaking 
humanly,)  could  have  been  accomplished  by  him  if  he  had  been 
spared  many  years.  Of  one  thing  we  are  sure,  God  does  nothing 
wrong.  He  brings  good  out  of  evil ;  all  his  ways  and  all  his  deal- 
ings with  the  children  of  men  are  right  and  holy.  May  we  there- 
fore be  submissive;  may  we  bow  and  kiss  the  rod  and  him  that 
hath  appointed  it;  may  the  blessed  Spirit  save  us  from  all  mur- 
muring on  account  of  his  dispensations  ;  may  he  give  us  meek 
and  lowly  minds ;  may  he  sanctify  to  us  all  his  heavy  afflictions, 
and  may  he  make  them  work  out  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding 
and  eternal  weight  of  glory  !  May  the  God  of  grace  sustain  you. 
Yours  with  all  sympathy,  JOHN  LLOYD. 


From  the  Rev.  Thomas  L.  McBryde,  of  the  Amoy  Mission. 

Lowndesville,  S.  C.,  February  1st,  1848. 
REV.  JOHN  C.  LOWRIE — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : — I  wish  to  commingle  my  sorrows  with 
yours  and  those  of  your  father  and  the  family,  on  account  of  the 
deep  affliction  that  has  been  sent  upon  you,  and  not  only  upon  you, 
but  upon  the  whole  Church.  As  one  who  loves  the  cause  of  mis- 
sions, I  feel  it  deeply  ;  for  this  cause  has  received  a  heavy  stroke 
indeed.  I  have  ever  looked  upon  our  departed  brother  as  one  of 
the  pillars  of  the  China  mission,  and  my  hopes  were  that  he  would 
be  long  spared,  with  his  eminent  qualifications  for  such  a  work. 

30 


466  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

But  our  trust  is  in  God.  If  we  can  only,  as  ministers  and  as 
Christians,  improve  this  event,  as  our  venerable  father,  Dr.  Alex- 
ander, exhorts  us  to  do  in  the  last  number  of  the  Chronicle,  it  will 
redound  to  the  greatest  good  of  missions,  and  the  glory  of  our 
blessed  Lord.  The  faith  and  zeal  of  the  Church  has  not  been 
what  they  ought  to  have  been,  else  God  would  not  thus  chastise 
her.  She  needs  such  trials  to  bring  her  up  to  that  standard  which 
is  required  of  her  in  God's  word.  But  I  need  not  comment  on 
this  subject. 

This  event  has  not  only  afflicted  me  as  a  lover  of  that  cause 
from  which  our  brother  has  been  taken  away,  but  I  am  afflicted 
as  a  friend,  I  might  say  as  a  relative,  for  he  was  very  nearly  re- 
lated to  me,  much  nearer  than  the  common  ties  of  birth  and  blood. 
He  had  a  place  in  my  heart,  and  in  the  heart  of  my  dear  compan- 
ion too,  which  few  others  have.  We  loved  him  like  a  brother  and 
a  sister.  And  well  might  we  love  him  ;  for  he  was  with  us  in  our 
sorrows,  and  helped  to  dry  up  those  tears  which  were  wont  to 
flow  so  freely  in  yonder  distant  land,  when  sunk  by  disease,  and 
pressed  down  by  the  still  heavier  weight  of  being  compelled  to 
leave  the  field  of  our  early  and  ardent  choice.  The  sympathy 
and  the  counsel  of  our  dear  Walter  under  such  circumstances,  can 
never  be  forgotten.  But  we  shall  meet  again,  and 

"  There,  on  a  green  and  flowery  mount, 

Our  weary  souls  shall  sit ; 
And  with  transporting  joys  recount 
The  labors  of  our  feet." 

Yes,  dear  brother,  I  expect  to  meet  him  there,  and  you  too ;  let 
us,  then,  be  up  and  doing.  Excuse  me  for  breaking  up  the  foun- 
tain of  grief  once  more  :  it  is  by  no  means  dried  up  in  my  bosom. 
Ever  since  the  reception  of  this  mournful  intelligence,  the  boat 
and  the  scene  have  been  almost  perpetually  before  my  mind. 
And  since  this  intelligence  came,  I  have  received  a  letter  from  our 
brother,  dated  Shanghai,  July  20 — I  suppose  one  of  the  last  letters 
he  ever  wrote.  It  contains  nothing  more  than  his  usual  friendly, 
cheerful  letters  do,  else  I  would  send  it  to  you. 
Yours  most  sincerely, 

THOS.  L.  MCBRYDE. 


Prom  the  Rev.  Thomas  McClatchie,  Missionary  of  the  Church 
Missionary  Society. 

Shanghai,  November  20th.  1847. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  ESQ. — 

MY  DEAR  SIR  : — The  accompanying  volume  has  been  for- 
warded to  me  to  be  given  to  your  son.  as  a  token  of  esteem  and 
friendship.  Mr.  Smith  and  I  arrived  in  China  about  three  years 
ago,  from  the  Church  Missionary  Society.  Shortly  after  our  ar- 
rival, we  formed  an  acquaintance  with  your  son,  whose  amiable 


LETTERS    OF    REV.    MESSRS.    M{CLATCHIE    AND    SYLE.      46? 

qualities  and  Christian  character  commanded  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  Mr.  S.  has  been  obliged  to  return 
home  in  consequence  of  ill  health,  and  having  published  a  work 
on  China,  he  sent  me  some  copies  to  be  distributed  here  as  pres- 
ents to  his  friends,  and  amongst  others  one  for  our  dear  deceased 
brother.  A  brother  truly  he  was  in  every  respect  to  those  who 
knew  him,  and  who  cultivated  so  desirable  a  friendship  as  his. 
His  consistent  Christian  walk  while  amongst  us,  when  called  to 
remembrance,  assures  us  beyond  the  possibility  of  doubt,  that 
he  has  gone  to  that  glorious  abode  where  his  Saviour  Christ  hath 
gone  before  him.  May  we  who  survive  him,  be  enabled  to  follow 
in  his  footsteps  as  he  followed  Jesus  ! 

But  not  only  had  our  dear  brother  gained  the  esteem  and  love 
of  the  members  of  the  foreign  community,  who  had  the  privilege 
of  being  acquainted  with  him,  but  he  also  established  for  himself 
a  high  character  amongst  those  poor  heathen  who  were  the  espe- 
cial objects  of  his  ministrations.  I  accidentally  met  with  a  lad 
the  other  day,  who  had  but  a  short  time  ago  arrived  here  from 
Ningpo.  In  alluding  to  our  dear  friend,  he  said,  "  Ah  !  he  was 
an  excellent  man."  We  have  also  suffered  a  severe  loss  indeed, 
in  a  literary  point  of  view,  in  his  removal  from  amongst  us.  He 
was  a  good  Chinese  scholar,  and,  in  a  late  essay  which  appeared 
in  the  Chinese  Repository,  he  threw  much  light  upon  a  most  mo- 
mentous question,  now  under  discussion  amongst  the  missionaries. 

As  he  is  now  taken  to  that  rest  which  is  his,  as  one  of  the  peo- 
ple of  God,  I  beg  leave  to  present  you  with  the  accompanying  vol- 
ume, which  will  perhaps  sometimes  call  to  mind  the  esteem  and 
love  which  we  all  felt  for  him  who  is  not  lost  to  us,  but  only  "gone 
before." 

Believe  me,  my  dear  sir,  truly  sympathizing  with  you  in  your 
irreparable  loss, 

Yours  most  sincerely,  THOMAS  MCCLATCHIE. 


Prom  the  Rev.  E.  W.  Syle,  Missionary  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church. 

Shanghai,  China,  September  20th,  1847. 
MY  DEAR  SIR — 

Knowing  that  Bishop  Boone  had  written  to  you  immediately 
after  we  were  made  acquainted  with  the  bereavement  which  falls 
so  heavily  upon  us  all,  "but  heaviest  on  you,  I  have  delayed  the 
offering  of  my  small  mite  of  consolation,  until  I  should  have  an 
opportunity  of  sending  you  what,  I  suppose,  will  be  to  his  family 
an  interesting  memento  of  your  early,  but  not  prematurely  sum- 
moned son,  Walter.  It  is  a  copy  of  the  inscription  on  a  large  stone 
tablet,  which  stands  close  by  the  wall  of  an  old  Romish  Chapel  in 
our  immediate  neighborhood  ;  and  also,  of  the  epitaphs  on  the  tomb- 
stones of  six  priests,  who  lie  buried  at  the  rear  of  the  house. 


468  MEMOIR   OP   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

During  his  sojourn  at  Bishop  Boone's,  I  was  his  conductor  in  a 
number  of  short  excursions,  made  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  what- 
ever objects  of  interest  lay  in  our  immediate  neighborhood.  One 
of  these  excursions  was  to  the  old,  half-ruined  chapel  above  men- 
tioned ;  and  at  the  time,  our  lamented  brother  requested  me  to 
send  a  copyist  to  the  place,  and  direct  him  to  transcribe  the  in- 
scriptions for  him. 

I  send  the  first,  rather  than  the  later  copy,  thinking  that  un- 
der the  circumstances  I  have  mentioned,  it  would  have  an  especial 
value  in  your  eyes. 

Many  were  the  brief  morning  visits  which  I  paid  to  your  son's 
little  study  while  he  was  with  us,  and  many  are  the  remarks  made 
by  him  on  those  occasions,  which  now  come  back  upon  my  mind 
with  a  weight  which  they  seemed  to  lack  at  the  time  I  heard 
them,  because  of  the  gentleness  of  manner  and  modulation  of  lan- 
guage with  which  they  were  expressed.  .  .  . 

Knowing  that  he  had  given  the  subject  of  the  Millennium  much 
attention,  I  asked  him  to  come  over  one  evening  and  make  me  ac- 
quainted with  the  views  he  had  adopted.  He  came  accordingly,  bring- 
ing with  him  the  well-worn  Bible,  with  the  pages  of  which  he  was  so 
familiar,  and  we  spent  two  or  three  hours  of,  to  me,  most  interesting 
intercourse,  and  comparison  of  Scripture  with  Scripture,  bearing  on 
the  question  of  the  speedy  coming  of  the  Millennial  period  and  reign 
of  Christ.  I  cannot  say  that  I  was  led  to  adopt  his  views ;  but  I  was 
much  impressed  with  the  illustration  afforded  by  his  own  case,  of 
the  elevating  effects  of  the  study  of  this  subject.  His  entire  free- 
dom from  asperity,  the  marked  moderation  of  his  views,  his  sober- 
mindedness,  and  the  greater  readiness  with  which  he  took  the 
spiritual,  rather  than  the  intellectual  or  ecclesiastical  view  of  any 
subject — all  these  excellencies  (and  they  were  peculiarly  his)  were, 
I  am  sure,  greatly  fostered  by  his  dwelling,  as  it  were,  among  the 
"  goodly  fellowship  of  the  Prophets,"  and  by  his  daily  habit  of  look- 
ing for  those  great  things  which,  as  he  expected,  were  soon  coming 
on  the  earth.  From  the  earthly  realization  of  these  expectations 
he  has  been  taken  away  ;  but  doubtless  he  now  understands  better 
than  any  of  us  the  things  that  shall  be  hereafter. 

I  often  found  him  writing,  and  have  heard  him  remark  that  he 
supposed  he  had  averaged  four  pages  of  writing  a  day  since  he  had 
been  in  China.  He  advised  me  to  pay  a  good  deal  of  attention  to 
the  children  of  Sunday  Schools  at  home,  and  to  send  them  letters 
as  often  as  I  could.  He  seemed  to  feel  little  hope  of  interesting 
those  in  the  Church,  who  had  grown  up  in  the  habit  of  not  caring 
for  the  work  of  making  the  Gospel  known  to  all  the  inhabitants 
of  the  earth. 

I  must  now  close  my  letter.  In  doing  so  I  hope  I  need  not 
apologize  for  not  having  said  more  in  the  way  of  consolation  than 
I  have  done.  Be  assured  that  it  is  with  .the  sincerest  sympathy 
Mrs.  Syle  and  myself  offer  our  condolences  to  yourself  and  your 
family.  Other,  and  far  better  comfort  than  we  can  offer  will,  we 


LETTER   OF   THE    REV.    JOSEPH    OWEN.  469 

know,  be  vouchsafed  to  you.  We  have  little  fear  that  this  dispen- 
sation of  Providence  will  have  the  effect  of  dampening  your  zeal 
or  discouraging  your  hopes  in  the  work  of  missions ;  and  our 
prayer  is  that  others  may  not  read  amiss  the  meaning  of  this  be- 
reavement. 

Believe  me  to  be,  my  dear  sir, 

With  much  respect  and  affection, 

Yours  in  the  Lord,        E.  W.  SYLE 


From  the  Rev.  Joseph  Owen,  of  the  Allahabad  Mission. 

Allahabad,  November  19th,  1847. 
MY  DEAR  MR.  LOWRIE — 

We  have  just  received  from  China  the  distressing  news  of 
your  beloved  son's  death,  and  there  is  in  the  Mission  a  deep 
and  universal  feeling  of  sorrow  and  sympathy,  which  I  have 
been  requested  on  their  behalf,  to  express  to  you.  Some  of 
us  knew  your  dear  son  personally,  and  are  thus  in  some  meas- 
ure prepared  to  appreciate  the  loss  to  you  and  all  your  family 
and  friends,  caused  by  his  death.  We  all  knew  him,  through  the 
Missionary  Chronicle,  as  a  faithful  ambassador  for  Christ,  in  perils 
often,  perils  of  water,  perils  of  robbers,  suffering  shipwreck,  and 
spending  nights  and  days  on  the  deep.  I  had  the  privilege  of 
knowing  him  as  a  beloved  fellow-student,  and.  since  we  have  been 
in  the  eastern  world,  as  a  dear  friend  and  correspondent.  Four 
days  ago,  on  the  15th  inst.,  I  received  from  him  a  letter,  dated 
Shanghai,  Aug.  8th,  where  he  was  attending  a  Convention  for  the 
revision  of  the  New  Testament  in  Chinese.  He  wished  an  an- 
swer by  return  mail,  to  some  inquiries  respecting  the  terms  we 
use  in  the  India  dialects  to  represent  the  Supreme  Being,  and 
wrote  in  good  health,  and  encouraged  with  his  prospects  of  use- 
fulness. On  the  envelope  I  found  with  sad  surprise,  the  following 
lines  from  Brother  Happer,  dated  Canton,  Sept.  21st.  "You  will 
excuse  my  opening  this  envelope  to  inform  you  of  the  lamented 
death  of  the  beloved  writer  of  this  note.  He  was  murdered  by 
pirates,  when  returning  from  Shanghai  to  Ningpo,  Aug.  19th, 
near  Chapoo.  They  threw  him  into  the  sea,  and  he  was  drowned. 
All  our  Missions  are  in  deep  grief.  Our  ablest  and  best  man  has 
fallen."  These  sad  tidings  were  confirmed  the  next  day  by  the 
Friend  of  India,  in  which  we  found  an  extract  from  the  China 
Mail  of  September,  which  I  have  had  copied,  and  will  send  to  you 
with  this.  You  will  no  doubt  have  heard  directly  from  China 
before  this  reaches  you,  yet  every  scrap  of  intelligence  on  the  sub- 
ject will  be  valued  by  you,  and  therefore  I  send  you  all  that  we  have 

This  is  indeed  a  mysterious  dispensation  of  Divine  Providence. 
Truly  God's  ways  are  not  as  our  ways,  nor  his  thoughts  as  our 
thoughts.  Dear  Walter  was  qualified  in  no  ordinary  degree  for  the 
great  work  in  which  he  was  engaged.  His  excellent  scholarship, 


470  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

ripe  judgment,  extensive  and  matured  knowledge  of  China,  the 
deep  foundation  which  he  had  laid  in  its  difficult  language,  and 
above  all  his  unwavering  and  ardent  love  to  the  Redeemer  and  his 
Church,  prepared  him  to  be  very  extensively  useful  in  that  im- 
mense field.  But  God  has  again  shown  us,  that  the  excellency 
of  the  power  in  the  great  work  of  the  world's  conversion,  is  to  be, 
not  of  us,  but  of  Him,  and  given  another  illustration  of  that  great 
truth,  "  Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  Spirit."  I  feel 
that  another  tie  to  earth  is  broken.  I  loved  Walter  most  sincerely, 
and  have  known  and  loved  him  ever  since  he  was  nineteen  years 
old.  Many  of  our  pleasant  interviews  I  shall  never  forget,  and 
I  trust  we  shall  with  delight  converse  about  them  hereafter.  In 
particular,  I  remember  the  kind  visit  he  paid  me,  at  my  father's,  a 
short  time  before  I  left  America.  We  took  a  long  ramble  together 
in  the  fields,  enjoying  the  sweet  fresh  air  of  spring,  part  of  the  time 
on  the  winding,  beautiful  banks  of  the  Croton,  and  conversing  of 
our  future  prospects.  His  heart  was  then  towards  Africa,  but  sub- 
sequently God  directed  him  to  that  glorious  field  in  which  he  has 
now  fallen.  His  usefulness,  however,  has  not  terminated  with  his 
sojourn  on  earth.  His  name  is  precious,  not  only  to  those  who  in- 
timately knew  him,  but  it  must  be  to  thousands.  His  career  was 
short,  but  very  eventful.  He  was  called  not  only  to  do,  but  to 
suffer  much  for  the  Lord  Jesus,  arid  he  did  it  as  a  good  soldier, 
falling  eventually  as  a  leader  in  one  of  the  foremost  ranks.  A 
breach  has  been  made  by  his  fall,  not  easily  filled.  God  grant 
that  his  example  of  labor  and  patience,  of  zeal  and  wisdom,  of 
faith  and  love,  may  call  forth  many  dear  youth  from  our  Ameri- 
can Zion,  to  count  not  their  lives  dear  to  themselves  in  publishing 
the  glorious  gospel  to  the  land  of  Sinim.  He  has  been  removed 
from  a  lower  to  a  higher  sphere  of  service.  Though  he  rests 
from  his  labors,  yet  he  is  not  inactive.  But  we  see  through  a 
glass  darkly.  We  know  little,  and  in  our  present  state  are  capable 
of  knowing  but  little,  of  the  glorious  service  in  which  he  has 
joined  the  redeemed  around  the  throne.  The  dark,  fearful  billows 
that  closed  above  him  as  he  sank  into  the  sea  could  not  contain 
his  spirit.  In  a  few  minutes  his  ransomed  soul  was  with  the 
blessed  Redeemer,  forever  beyond  the  violence  of  earth  and  of  hell. 
And  if  the  kind,  considerate  authorities  at  Ningpo  should  not  suc- 
ceed in  recovering  his  remains,  it  will  matter  little  after  a  while ;  the 
day  will  soon  come  when  the  sea  shall  give  up  its  dead,  when  the 
members  of  Christ's  body  scattered  throughout  its  immense,  dismal 
caverns  shall  all  be  recovered,  brought  and  joined  to  their  Head, 
and  forever  made  like  to  his  glorious  body.  We  may  be  sure  that 
the  Omniscient  and  Omnipotent  Saviour  will  not  allow  one  particle 
of  his  purchased  possession  to  be  lost.  We  hope  soon  to  be  with 
him  in  the  midst  of  the  glorified  throng.  We  are  repeatedly  and 
emphatically  reminded  that  the  fashion  of  this  world  passeth  away. 
The  tidings  that  you  conveyed  to  me  a  little  more  than  two 
months  ago,  were  some  of  the  most  painful  that  I  ever  received. 


LETTER    OF   THE    REV.    JOHN   WRAY.  471 

I  was  looking  forward  with  very  great  happiness  to  having  my 
own  dear  brother  with  me  here.  But  the  disappointment,  with 
the  almost  certain  prospect  of  his  speedy  death,  is  a  deep  afflic- 
tion. I  bless  God  who  has  not  allowed  a  murmuring  thought  to 
arise  in  my  heart.  He  knows  what  is  best  for  his  Church,  infi- 
nitely better  than  we  do,  and  the  multitude  of  his  ransomed  ones 
in  India  and  China,  shall  surely  be  brought  home,  though  we  and 
all  others  now  on  the  field  should  fall.  God  is  trying  his  Church  by 
terrible  things  in  righteousness.  He  has  taken  to  himself  some  of 
our  most  useful  fellow-missionaries  of  late.  On  the  19th  of  Aug. 
your  son  ;  on  the  1st  of  Sept.  the  Rev.  J.  Macdonald  of  the  Free 
Church  Mission,  Calcutta,  a  very  holy,  useful  man  ;  on  the  7th 
of  Sept.  Mrs.  Hill,  who  had  been  for  twenty  years  a  faithful  mis- 
sionary at  Berhampore ;  and  not  long  ago  Mr.  Whittlesey,  a  very 
useful  missionary  of  the  American  Board,  died  in  Ceylon.  Other 
useful  laborers  are  obliged  to  leave  the  field,  as  dear  Brother  Ran- 
kin,  and  Mrs.  Scott.  And  others  God  is  keeping  from  coming. 
Ought  not  the  Church  to  think  of  these  things  ?  These  are  loud 
calls  to  us  here,  to  the  Committee  at  home,  to  the  ministers  and 
elders,  to  the  sons  of  the  prophets,  to  every  individual  in  the 
Church,  to  humble  ourselves  under  the  mighty  hand  of  God,  that 
in  due  time  he  may  lift  us  up.  Trusting,  my  dear  friend,  that 
God  will  sustain  you  and  all  -your  family  under  the  afflictive  stroke 
of  his  holy  providence  of  which  you  are  soon  to  hear,  and  assuring 
you  that  this  is  the  united  prayer  of  us  all,  I  remain  as  ever 

Yours  affectionately, 

JOSEPH  OWEN. 


From  the  Rev.  John  Wray,  of  the  Allahabad  Mission. 

Allahabad,  November  18th,  1847. 
MY  DEAR  MR.  LOWRIE — 

It  is  with  the  most  sincere  and  heartfelt  sorrow,  that  I  take  up 
my  pen  on  the  present  occasion.  The  recent  melancholy  news 
from  China  is  calculated  to  call  forth  our  sympathy  on  your  be- 
half, and  that  of  the  different  members  of  your  family. 

Although  you  will  receive  a  letter  from  our  mission  through 
brother  J.  Owen,  expressing  our  united  sympathy,  I  cannot  deny 
myself  the  privilege  of  expressing  my  feelings,  when  one  who 
stands  in  so  near  a  relation  to  us  is  suffering  under  an  unusually 
severe  and  trying  bereavement.  It  was  my  privilege  to  be  a  fel- 
low-student with  your  son  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Prince- 
ton. I  often  met  with  him  at  our  missionary  conferences ;  well 
do  I  remember  the  spirit  with  which  he  entered  into  every  subject 
connected  with  foreign  mission  operations.  We  all  then  felt.,  that 
our  dear  brother  possessed  those  qualifications  which  would  make 
him  an  eminently  useful  missionary,  in  any  part  of  the  mission 
field ;  but  more  especially  in  China,  where  natural  talents,  energy, 


472  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

and  perseverance  were  essentially  necessary.  We  were  not  dis- 
appointed in  the  estimate  we  had  then  formed  of  his  qualifica- 
tions. From  time  to  time,  I  have  read  his  valuable  contributions 
in  the  Missionary  Chronicle,  with  no  ordinary  degree  of  pleasure 
and  profit,  for  his  pieces  seemed  to  possess  the  rare  quality  of  im- 
parting at  the  same  time  edification  and  pleasure. 

It  has  pleased  the  Master  whom  we  serve  to  bring  to  a  speedy 
termination  the  labors  of  our  dear  brother.  Painful  and  distress- 
ing as  has  been  the  way  in  which  he  has  been  taken  from  his 
family,  the  Church,  and  the  heathen,  among  whom  he  labored  so 
successfully,  there  is  this  consolation,  that  he  has  been  removed 
from  the  toils  and  labors  of  the  Church  below  to  the  enjoyment 
of  the  unspeakable  bliss  of  the  Church  above,  forever  to  stand  in 
the  presence  of  that  Saviour,  whom  he  so  ardently  loved  and  so 
faithfully  served  on  earth,  the  advancement  of  whose  kingdom 
and  glory  appeared  to  him  as  the  only  object  worth  living  for. 

No  doubt  the  Lord  will  overrule  this  sad  event  to  the  advance- 
ment of  his  own  glory  ;  his  purposes  are  often  to  us  dark  and 
mysterious,  but  as  nothing  happens  by  chance  in  his  government, 
vve  may  conclude,  that  either  the  Church  in  America,  or  the  mis- 
sionaries in  the  foreign  fields,  needed  to  be  urged  to  a  proper  dis- 
charge of  their  duty  by  some  striking  dispensation  of  his  provi- 
dence ;  and  surely  the  one  under  consideration  speaks  to  the 
Church,  and  to  us  missionaries,  in  a  language  not  to  be  misunder- 
stood or  disregarded. 

My  dear  and  esteemed  friend,  may  the  Lord  who  has  sent  this 
more  than  usually  severe  affliction  on  you  and  your  family,  with 
the  affliction  bestow  all  needed  grace,  comfort,  and  consolation ! 
May  the  sympathizing  Saviour  pour  abundantly  into  your 
wounded  hearts  the  consolations  of  his  Gospel,  which  have  ever 
been  found  so  refreshing  to  his  tried  and  afflicted  people.  I  may 
add,  that  all  the  Lord's  dear  people  at  this  station  have  expressed, 
in  the  kindest  manner,  the  deep  interest  they  feel  in  your  severe 
affliction,  and  I  am  sure  you  will  not  be  forgotten  at  a  throne  of 
grace,  by  those  who  love  the  Saviour  and  his  cause. 

My  dear  wife  unites  with  me  in  expressing  our  most  sincere  re- 
gards to  yourself,  Mrs.  Lowrie,  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Lovvrie,  and  the 
other  members  of  your  deeply  afflicted  family. 

Yours  in  much  Christian  affection, 

JOHN  WRAY. 


From  the  Rev.  Levi  Janvier  of  the  Lodiana  Mission. 

Lodiana,  January  17th,  1848. 
MY  DEAR  MR.  LOWRIE — 

....  When  I  wrote  last,  I  made  no  allusion  to  the  agonizing 
bereavement  with  which  the  Lord  has  seen  fit  to  visit  you;  for  I 
wrote  in  much  haste,  and  I  felt  that  it  was  not  a  subject  to  be  thus 


LETTERS    OP    REV.  MESSRS.  JANVIER   AND   J.  WILSON.      473 

lightly  touched  ;  but  indeed  I  still  feel  that  nothing  which  I  can 
say  is  adequate  to  the  case.  What  can  I  say,  except  "  the  Lord 
gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away."  I  referred  to  the  matter  in 
writing  to  Mr.  J.  C.  Lowrie,  still  hoping  that  the  whole  might 
prove  a  rumor ;  but  there  has  been  nothing  to  countenance  such 
a  hope.  I  feel  it  a  personal  loss  ;  but  what  is  my  loss  compared 
with  yours,  and  with  that  of  the  Church  !  Dear  sir,  my  mind 
shrinks  from  the  contemplation  of  the  lamentable  tragedy ;  but 
still  you  know  as  well  as  I,  that  the  beloved  departed  must  be 
viewed,  not  as  the  prey  of  ferocious  men  or  buffeting  elements,  but 
as  he  is,  the  blessed  tenant  of  a  heavenly  mansion,  to  which  he 
has  been  called  before  you,  and  where  he  awaits  yout*  arrival.  By 
what  route  he  arrived  there,  is  now  to  him  a  most  unimportant 
and  secondary  consideration ;  nay,  a  matter  of  complacency,  and 
a  theme  for  praise.  He  was  engaged  in  his  "Father's  business," 
and  his  Father  permitted,  yea,  appointed  the  method  of  calling 
him  into  his  presence.  And  as  for  ourselves,  faith  must  say,  "  It 
is  well,"  "  It  is  the  Lord,"  while  to  the  flesh  it  is  a  dreadful  blow. 
Dear  sir,  you  have  my  deepest  sympathy,  though  I  know  full 
well  what  a  poor  alleviation  that  is.  But  the  consolations  of  God 
are  substantial ;  they  are  "  neither  few  nor  small."  May  He  sus- 
tain you  :  He  is  able  to  do  it. 

Now,  dear  sir,  with  Mrs.  Janvier's  and  my  own  affectionate  re- 
gards, I  remain  in  Christian  bonds, 

Most  sincerely  yours, 

L.  JANVIER. 


From  the  Rev.  James  Wilson,  of  the  Furrukhabad  Mission. 

Agra,  February  20th,  1848. 
MY  DEAR  MR.  LOWRIE — 

....  I  have  refrained  for  two  months  past  from  any  allusion  to 
the  afflicting  intelligence  from  China,  which  you  must  have  heard 
before  this  time,  from  the  feeling  that  I  could  not  touch  upon  it, 
without  opening  up  afresh  a  wound  which  was  but  too  deep  before. 
I  trust  before  this  reaches  you,  you  will  have  accustomed  yourself 
to  look  at  the  subject  in  that  calm  and  mellowed  light,  which  Chris- 
tianity throws  over  those  parts  of  Divine  Providence,  which  ap- 
pear dark  and  heavy  in  their  bearing.  The  loss  of  a  son  who  is 
amiable,  intelligent,  and  pious,  is  under  any  circumstances  a  heavy 
affliction.  But  when  in  addition  to  all  this,  he  was  just  becoming 
thoroughly  prepared  for  the  performance  of  a  work,  which  the  Bi- 
ble has  taught  us  to  believe  of  vast  and  immeasurable  importance, 
the  affliction  is  rendered  more  deep  and  poignant,  by  the  dark,  un- 
fathomable character  of  the  providence  which  accompanies  it.  I 
trust  you  will  be  enabled  to  keep  your  mind  in  a  position  to  say, 
with  the  mother  in  Israel  whose  only  son  was  cut  down  in  his 
youth,  "  It  is  well."  "  The  Judge  of  all  the  earth"  will  do  what  is 


474  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

well.  How  hard  it  is  to  learn,  and  how  often  it  has  to  be  re-lea  rned, 
that  the  Lord  does  not  depend  on,  or  choose  his  instrumentalities 
for  the  accomplishment  of  his  purposes,  as  we  would  choose  them. 
How  often  he,  in  his  perfect  knowledge  of  the  subject,  lays  aside 
or  removes  the  very  instrumentality,  which  we  think  the  best 
suited  to  accomplish  an  object  of  great  importance.  This,  I  doubt 
not,  is  the  light  in  which  nearly  all  of  those  most  familiar  with 
the  character  of  the  work  to  be  accomplished  in  China,  will  look 
upon  the  removal  of  your  son  from  that,  important  field  of  benev- 
olent enterprise.  Yet  the  Lord  will  show  in  the  end,  that  this  was 
the  best  means  which  he  had  of  preparing  others  to  perform  the 
work  for  which  we  thought  him  so  well  prepared.  The  Lord  does 
not  undervalue  talents  and  acquirements  and  fitness  for  the  dis- 
charge of  important  duties,  but  he  often  uses  these  in  a  way  which 
we  thought  not  of,  and  for  which  we  were  not  prepared.  I  sup- 
pose the  churches  at  home,  and  the  Board,  and  the  missionaries 
abroad,  were  looking  and  trusting  too  much  to  the  fitness  of  the 
instrumentality.  The  Lord  selected  that  portion  of  the  instru- 
mentality which  they  thought  the  fittest,  and  removed  it.  May 
he  himself  enable  the  churches,  the  Board,  and  the  missionaries, 
to  make  such  improvement  of  the  subject,  as  shall  make  them  to 
be  a  prepared  instrumentality  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  pur- 
poses of  grace,  which  we  have  no  liberty  to  doubt  that  he  has  tow- 
ards the  people  of  China.  If  this  sad  stroke  be  only  the  means 
of  leading  the  churches,  the  Board,  and  the  missionaries,  to  a 
deeper  tone  of  piety,  and  a  more  humble  dependence  on  Divine 
wisdom  for  help  and  guidance  and  success,  and  to  more  earnest 
prayer  for  the.se,  then  it  will  be  seen  in  the  end  that  your  son  is 
not  dead  in  vain.  You  have  had  many  things  connected  with  the 
missionary  enterprise  to  try  your  spirit.  This  last  is  of  a  deeper 
tone  than  they  all.  Yet  I  have  no  doubt  that  you  will  in  the 
end,  find  that  it  has  been  the  means  of  greater  blessing  to  you 
than  any  of  them. 

Eternity  will  throw  a  brightness  around  the  subject,  which  our 
dim-sightedness  prevents  us  from  seeing  amid  the  clouds  and  dark- 
ness of  this  world.  Glimpses  of  that  you  will  be  permitted  to  see 
even  in  this  world.  But  the  full  brightness  which  will  beam  upon 
it  when  the  curtain  is  removed,  will  be  such  as  to  remove  from 
your  mind  all  regrets  as  to  the  premature  and  painful  removal  of 
your  son.  The  Lord  will  bring  out  the  problem,  both  to  your  sur- 
prise and  satisfaction.  Leave  it  then  with  him,  till  he  brings  out 
the  result. 

I  am  yours  with  affectionate  regard, 

JAMES  WILSON. 


LETTER  OF  REV.  MESSRS.  RAMSEY  AND  LOUGHRIDGE.       475 


From  the  Rev.  James  B.  Ramsey,  of  the  Choctaw  Mission. 

Spencer  Academy,  February  5th,  1848. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  Esa. — 

DEAREST  SIR  : — Permit  us  to  mingle  our  tears  with  yours  on 
account  of  the  mournful  intelligence  from  China.  The  paper 
containing  the  intelligence  had  been  lying  for  nearly  a  week  on 
the  table  unread,  when,  feeling  unwell,  I  picked  it  up,  and  almost 
the  first  thing  that  met  my  eye  was  the  notice  of  your  son's  death. 
It  came  indeed  like  a  thunderstroke  ;  and  it  was  not  tin  I  had  re- 
tired to  another  room,  and  returned,  that  I  could  speak  of  it  to 
Mrs.  Ramsey.  I  knew  him,  and  loved  him,  and  cannot  now 
think  of  him  but  with  tears.  How,  then,  must  his  sudden  death 
pierce  a  father's  heart!  "When  one  of  the  members  suffer,  all 
the  members  suffer  with  it."  This  we  now  deeply  feel,  and  it  is 
to  assure  you  of  our  sympathy  and  our  prayers  that  I  now  write ; 
not  to  comfort,  for  consolation  must  come  from  another  source ; 
and  how  to  draw  it  thence,  your  long  experience  in  the  Christian 
life,  and  of  the  Spirit's  consolations,  has  doubtless  fully  taught 
you.  While  your  heart  bleeds,  as  it  must  to  a  degree  the  stranger 
knows  not  of,  may  the  Spirit's  consolations  abound,  and  the  bless- 
ed Saviour's  voice  of  love  sweetly  soothe  and  abundantly  sustain 
you  ! 

We  feel  his  loss  to  be  a  common  one,  and  one  which  the  Church 
must  deeply  feel,  more  deeply  in  proportion  as  his  worth  was 
known.  But  still,  why  should  we  speak  of  a  loss  ?  The  work  in 
which  he  was,  and  we  are  engaged,  is  carried  on  under  the  aus- 
pices of  a  Leader  who  loves  his  cause  and  his  people  far  better 
than  we,  and  who  can  make  these  things  all  instrumental  in 
hastening  on  the  accomplishment  of  the  great  and  glorious  result. 
"  The  Lord  reigneth  ;  let  the  earth  rejoice."  Surely,  then,  his 
people  may  at  all  times  rejoice  in  his  dispensations,  even  when 
clouds  and  darkness  are  round  about  them. 

His  work  was  quickly  done,  and  the  Master  has  taken  him  to 
himself.  We  would  feel  it  to  be  a  loud  call  upon  ourselves  to  give 
all  diligence  to  do  our  Master's  work,  as  we  may  have  but  a  short 
time  to  honor  our  Saviour  in. 

Yours  affectionately, 

JAS.  B.  RAMSEY. 


From  the  Rev.  R.  M.  Loughridge,  of  the  Creek  Mission. 

Creek  Mission,  January  24th,  1848. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  Esa. — 

MY  DEAR  SIR  : — I  have  just  heard  of  your  great  bereavement, 
and  the  great  loss  of  the  Church,  in  the  death  of  your  son  Walter. 
Ts  it  true  ?  The  account  came  here  in  the  New  York  Observer. 


476  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

Can  it  be  that  he  is  laid  aside  from  that  great  work  in  which  he 
was  engaged,  and  for  which  he  was  so  eminently  qualified  ! 
Truly  the  Lord's  ways  are  not  our  ways,  nor  his  thoughts  our 
thoughts.  I  have  read  the  accounts  of  the  deaths  of  many  mis- 
sionaries, but  I  have  never  felt  the  death  of  any  brother  so  much 
as  that  of  Brother  Lowrie,  in  China.  I  was  for  a  short  time  a 
classmate  of  his,  so  that  I  had  an  opportunity  of  knowing  some- 
thing of  his  talents  and  acquirements.  It  always  seemed  to  me 
that  he  was  the  very  man  for  the  important  station  which  he 
filled,  suited  in  every  way  to  be  a  missionary  to  the  Chinese.  But 
he  is  gone.  How  soon  is  his  work  ended  !  The  Lord  had  need 
of  him.  How  dark  and  mysterious  is  this  providence  !  Why  is 
he  so  soon  called  away  ?  What  are  we  to  learn  from  this  dispen- 
sation ?  Although  a  violent  act  by  a  band  of  pirates,  yet  it  is  all 
ordered  of  God  for  some  wise  purpose.  It  is  our  duty  to  bow  in 
humble  submission  to  his  will.  I  know,  my  dear  brother,  that  it 
is  a  trial,  a  severe  trial,  to  you.  But  you  know  where  to  go  for 
consolation.  You  have  the  best  of  evidence  that  your  son  was 
ready,  and  it  is  now  well  with  him.  "  It  is  the  Lord  ;  let  him  do 
what  seemeth  him  good."  Soon  we  will  meet  our  dear  friends  in 
heaven.  Your  brother,  R.  M.  LOUGHRIDGE. 


From  the  Rev.  J.  L.  Wilson,  of  the  Gaboon  Mission,  Africa. 

Mount  Clio,  January  13th,  1848. 
REV.  JOHN  C.  LOWRIE — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : — The  papers  brought  us  yesterday  the 
astounding  intelligence  of  the  death  of  your  dear  brother.  If  it  is 
the  slightest  alleviation  of  the  grief  that  you  must  all  feel,  be  as- 
sured of  our  most  cordial  sympathies,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but 
thousands  of  other  Christian  hearts  feel  equally  as  much. 

Your  honored  father  must  have  been  almost  overwhelmed  by 
this  event.  And  yet,  why  should  he?  It  was  under  the  sove- 
reign eye  of  a  most  merciful  God  that  this  deed  of  violence  was 
perpetrated  ;  and  as  inexplicable  as  it  may  be  to  us,  I  have  no  con- 
viction more  firmly  made  on  my  mind,  than  that  this  very  event 
will  be  overruled,  so  as  to  subserve  the  cause  of  missions  and  the 
salvation  of  the  heathen  more  effectually  even  than  the  life  of 
your  brother. 

My  own  aged  father,  who  could  more  easily  enter  into  the  feel- 
ings of  your  father  than  most  persons,  could  scarcely  compose  him- 
self to  sleep  last  night  after  hearing  the  painful  intelligence  read ; 
and  if  such  were  his  feelings,  what  must  have  been  those  of  your 
own  family  ?  God  grant  you  all  grace  to  recognize  his  hand  in  this 
event,  and  to  exercise  the  most  cheerful  resignation  to  his  holy  will ! 

Accept  of  my  sincere  sympathies,  and  believe  me,  as  ever, 
Your  affectionate  brother  in  Christ, 

J.  L.  WILSON. 


LETTER   OP   THE    REV     J.    R.    ECKARD.  477 

From  the  Rev.  James  Read  Eckard,  of  the  Ceylon  Mission. 

Philadelphia,  December  30th,  1847. 
REV.  JOHN  C.  LOWRIE — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : — It  was  not  until  this  morning  that  I  as- 
certained the  truth  of  the  report  in  the  newspapers  of  your  brother's 
death  in  the  service  of  his  Heavenly  Master.  I  went  twice  to  the 
Mission  Rooms,  but  they  were  vacant  each  time.  This  morning 
I  went  again,  and  was  told  that  no  doubt  was  entertained  of  the 
painful  tidings.  I  did  not  wish  to  write  on  the  subject  while 
there  was,  or  might  possibly  be,  any  room  for  doubt. 

I  had  no  personal  acquaintance  with  your  brother,  but  have  re- 
peatedly thought  of  him  with  interest,  not  only  from  his  relation- 
ship to  you,  but  from  what  I  had  learned  of  his  character  for  piety 
and  talents  from  others.  Although,  when  he  perished  by  the  hand 
of  violence,  it  was  not  directly  on  account  of  his  being  a  mission- 
ary, yet  indirectly  and  really  it  was.  Had  he  not  been  led  by  the 
love  of  Christ  and  of  the  souls  of  men  to  that  distant  field  of  half- 
civilized  heathen,  the  peril  would  have  been  avoided.  It  was 
doubtless  with  a  full  view  of  all  the  dangers  to  be  encountered — 
whether  from  disease,  or  the  sea,  or  the  evil  passions  of  lawless 
men,  that  he  went.  When,  in  the  last  century,  the  Moravian 
missionaries  were  massacred  by  the  Indians  of  North  America, 
when,  in  modern  times,  Lyman,  Munson,  and  Williams,  died  by 
violence,  the  sentiments  and  voice  of  the  churches  added  their 
names  to  the  long  list  of  the  martyrs  of  Jesus  Christ.  In  spirit 
they  were  such,  and  also  in  their  mode  of  death.  They  were  in  a 
very  real  sense  witnesses  for  Christ,  not  only  in  their  death,  but  in 
its  peculiar  circumstances.  The  name  of  your  brother  is  now 
written  on  that  glorious  list.  That  it  was  long  since  written  in 
the  Lamb's  book  of  life,  and  that  he  now  is  in  the  enjoyment  of 
his  Saviour's  presence  in  Paradise,  must  be  your  chief  consolation. 
And  it  is  a  sufficient  one.  The  other  thought,  however,  of  the 
honor  put  on  your  brother  by  the  Saviour,  in  permitting  him  thus 
to  glorify  him,  may  tend  to  abate  the  pain  arising  from  the  fact 
that  he  was  removed  by  violent  hands.  I  trust  that  through  the 
grace  of  God  your  consolations  may  abound  in  this  trial. 

Please  express  to  your  father  my  deep  sympathy  with  him  in 
this  bereavement,  and  my  hope  that  God  will  make  clear  to  his 
soul  the  manifold  sources  of  consolation  which  are  secured  by  cove- 
nant through  Jesus  Christ. 

Yours,  very  truly, 

JAMES  READ  ECKARD. 


478  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 


Fi  om  the  Rev.  John  O.  Procter. 

Williamsport,  Md.,  February  8th,  1849. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  Esa. — 

DEAR  SIR: —  ....  Very  frequently  have  I  thought  of  youi 
dear  son,  as  a  dear  brother  in  the  Lord.  The  first  Sabbath  that  I 
spent  in  Princeton,  he  invited  me  to  teach  a  class  in  his  Sabbath 
school  in  Q,ueenston,  which  I  did,  and  every  Sabbath  after  that, 
that  I  spent  at  the  Seminary,  I  spent  the  after  part  of  the  day  in 
his  Sabbath  school.  He  was  a  most  excellent  superintendent. 
We  generally  went  to  the  school  together,  and  returned  together, 
and  oftentimes  was  our  religious  conversation  most  entertaining 
and  comforting.  I  very  frequently  have  thought  of  one  remark 
made  by  him  when  we  were  walking  thus  together.  We  were 
speaking  of  the  prospect  before  us  in  this  life ;  of  the  deceit- 
fulness  of  the  heart,  of  the  wickedness  of  men,  of  -the  trials 
of  the  Christian,  &c.,  when  he  remarked,  "Sometimes  when  I 
think  of  these  things,  I  feel  inclined  to  wish,  if  it  were  the  will  of 
my  Master,  just  to  lie  down  and  die.  The  thought  of  having  to 
spend,  probably,  eight  or  ten  years  in  this  wicked  world,  is  not 
very  pleasing.  But.  if  it  be  my  Master's  will,  I  will  cheerfully 
obey."  Was  he  not  ripening  rapidly  for  heaven  ?  Even  though 
he  was  then  laboriously  preparing  for  his  Master's  service  in  His 
vineyard  here  below,  and  was  so  far  as  we  could  judge  from  his 
conduct  anxious  to  go  to  the  heathen  as  a  missionary  ;  still,  if  God 
had  willed  it  so,  he  would  cheerfully  have  left  this  troublesome 
world  and  have  gone  to  his  rest. 

I  never  was  so  faithful  a  Sabbath  school  teacher  as  I  was  when 
engaged  as  a  co-worker  with  him ;  and  I  do  believe  it  was  greatly 
owing  to  his  faithful  remarks  made  in  my  hearing  when  I  ac- 
cepted the  invitation  to  become  a  teacher.  Among  other  things, 
he  gave  me  a  most  earnest,  anxious  look,  and  said,  "  Well,  brother 
Proctor,  remember,  I  shall  want  you  to  do  your  duty."  That 
look,  and  those  words,  I  never  expect  to  forget.  They  had  a 
most  happy  effect  upon  me ;  and.  with  the  blessing  of  God,  I 
may  say,  indirectly,  they  had  a  most  happy  effect  on  my  class. 
Perhaps  some  remarks  as  to  the  way  of  his  conducting  his  school 
will  not  be  out  of  place.  We  had  a  teachers'  meeting  every 
Saturday  evening  in  some  private  house,  when,  after  singing  and 
prayer,  he  called  upon  the  male  teachers  to  answer  questions  on 
the  lesson  for  the  next  day.  By  this  means  all  were  brought  to 
prepare  their  lessons  by  Saturday  evening ;  and  the  ladies,  hear- 
ing our  views,  would  be  still  better  prepared  to  instruct  their 
scholars.  After  the  lesson  was  thus  gone  over,  we  again  sung ; 
when  the  teachers  were  called  upon  individually  to  report  respect- 
ing their  classes.  •  If  any  of  the  scholars  were  concerned  about 
their  souls,  we  would  make  such  the  special  subjects  of  our  pray- 


LETTERS    OF    REV.    MESSRS.    PROCTOR   AND   LOWRIE.         479 

ers  before  we  closed.     By  that  means  also  all  the  teachers  became 
acquainted  and  interested  in  each  other.  .  .  . 
Yours  in  the  bonds  of  Christ, 

JOHN  O.  PROCTER. 


From  the  Rev.  John  M.  Lowrie. 

Wellsville,  Ohio,  January  26th,  1849. 
DEAR  UNCLE — 

I  enclose  several  letters  to  me  from  cousin  Walter.  As  we 
were  so  much  together  while  he  was  in  the  College  and  in  the 
Seminary,  our  communications  were  chiefly  personal  and  not 
written.  I  will  therefore  give  you  some  of  his  religious  experi- 
ence and  views  during  these  periods. 

If  I  were  drawing  off  a  sketch  of  his  character  as  a  student  at 
College  and  in  the  Theological  Seminary  I  would  notice  some 
sucli  points  as  these. 

His  first  care  was  attention  to  his  own  spiritual  wants.  I  never 
knew  a  man  more  scrupulously  careful  to  maintain  punctual  and 
deliberate  habits  of  private  devotion.  We  were  for  a  short  time 
occupants  of  the  same  room  ;  and  it  was  arranged  that  our  hours 
of  exercise  should  leave  the  room  private  to  each  of  us  in  turn. 
Many  times  when  this  arrangement  was  interrupted,  I  have 
known  him  enter  a  little  closet  in  one  corner  of  the  room,  that 
no  eye  might  see  him  while  he  sought  his  Father's  face. 

It  was  chiefly  his  desire  to  secure  uninterrupted  hours  and  sea- 
sons, unknown  to  any,  for  devotional  duties,  which  led  him  to 
secure  a  room  by  himself  during  the  greater  part  of  his  course, 
after  his  profession  of  piety.  His  seasons  of  fasting  I  sometimes 
knew,  because  we  ate  at  the  same  table ;  but  at  other  times,  I 
think,  he  so  arranged  them  in  connection  with  visits  to  friends  in 
the  country,  that  we  supposed  him  not  yet  returned  from  a  visit, 
when,  in  truth,  he  had  exchanged  his  social  intercourse  for  a  sea- 
son of  solitary  communion  with  his  God.  And  I  have  often 
knocked  at  his  door  for  admittance,  when  I  knew  he  was  within, 
but  he  would  not  reply,  for  he  wished  uninterrupted  his  seasons 
of  devotion  and  of  study.  It  seemed  also  remarkable  to  me  that 
he  so  well  maintained  his  devotional  habits  when  absent  from 
home.  I  have  no  knowledge  of  any  friend  whose  habit  of  medi- 
tation upon  the  Bible  after  reading  it  was  so  fixed.  At  the  foun- 
dation of  his  Christian  character,  was  an  ardent  love  for  his  closet. 

Next  to  his  attention  to  private  duties,  I  would  rank  his  affec- 
tionate concern  for  the  piety  of  his  fellow-professors  of  religion. 
There  was  at  Jefferson  College  a  small  religious  society,  still  in 
existence,  bearing  the  name  of  the  missionary  Brainerd  Of  this 
he  was  an  active  member,  and  he  ever  regarded  it  as  a  means 
both  of  profit  and  influence.  But  outside  of  Jhis  little  band,  he 
exerted  no  ordinary  influence  upon  Christian  students.  He  was 


480  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE 

especially  beloved  by  those  who  were  associated  with  him  in  the 
support  of  Sabbath  Schools  and  prayer-meetings,  for  he  was  nat- 
urally more  with  them.  And  as  from  the  very  first  his  was  d 
missionary  spirit,  so  those  brethren  both  at  Canonsburg  and  Prince- 
ton, whose  minds  turned  towards  the  great  field  whitening  to  the 
harvest,  were  his  peculiar  companions.  There  was  one  room  at 
Canonsburg  that  was  the  place  of  many  a  conference  for  the  land 
of  Sinim,  and  many  a  prayer  that  it  might  be  opened  to  the  her- 
alds of  salvation.  And  there  are  brethren  in  China  and  India, 
and  I  believe  in  heaven  too,  who  will  long  remember  room  No. 
29,  in  Princeton  Seminary,  hallowed  as  it  has  been  by  conference, 
by  tears  and  prayers.  I  scarcely  know  one  whose  influence  upon 
the  piety  of  the  institutions,  both  at  the  College  and  the  Seminary, 
was  more  consistent  and  healthful  than  his  was. 

His  influence  was  also  exerted  over  those  who  made  no  pro- 
fession of  religion.  He  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  truth,  that 
to  every  young  man  the  period  of  College  life  was  the  golden  op- 
portunity to  secure  salvation,  or  to  strengthen  pious  habits  and  a 
pious  character.  He  was  well  aware,  also,  of  the  many  insidious 
and  dangerous  snares  which  beset  those  who  are  so  early  in  life 
set  free  from  the  restraints  and  the  wholesome  discipline  of  a  par- 
ent's control.  Many  a  time  has  he  expressed  deep  anxiety  on 
learning  that  some  interesting  and  inexperienced  youth  had  taken 
his  boarding  in  dangerous  company 

Worthy  of  notice,  also,  are  his  zeal  and  devotion  to  improve  op- 
portunities for  usefulness.  The  Sabbath  School  at  Miller's  Hun, 
where  he  attended  church,  and  of  which  he  was  superintendent, 
was  about  six  miles  from  Canonsburg.  Under  his  control  it  was 
a  thriving  and  most  interesting  school.  Accompanied  by  a  band 
of  affectionate  teachers,  his  fellow-students,  he  went  to  the  school, 
sustained  meetings  for  exhortation  and  prayer,  visited  the  sick, 
and  was  ever  welcome  to  the  firesides  and  the  tables  of  an  attach- 
ed people.  Beyond  doubt,  there  are  precious  souls  in  that  congre- 
gation, who  retain  the  sweet  savor  of  his  memory.  They  will 
remember  the  crowded  prayer-meeting,  the  solemn  Bible-class,  the 
simple  address,  and  the  fact  that  many  young  persons,  almost  all 
from  the  Sabbath  School,  united  with  the  Church  during  his  so- 
journ with  them,  as  evidence  of  his  influence  and  usefulness 
among  that  people.  These  labors  were  a  delight  to  him,  though 
they  were  toilsome.  Often  he  would  walk  as  many  as  eight  miles 
on  Saturday  evening  to  hold  a  prayer-meeting,  and  return  to  the 
church  on  Sabbath  morning  to  the  school. 

There  remains  one  other  matter  which  I  have  in  lively,  and  I 
may  add,  grateful  remembrance, — this  is  his  faithfulness  in  dis- 
charging the  important  but  unpleasant  duty  of  admonition.  I 
have  lying  before  me  a  letter,  which  cannot  be  made  public,  but 
which  is  an  excellent  instance  and  evidence  of  his  watchfulness 
over  his  brethren,  and  of  his  kindness  and  prudence  to  warn  and 


LETTER  OF  THE  REV.  CHARLES  HODGE,  D.D.      481 

correct.     Nor  was  he  less  ready  to  receive  than  to  administer 
reproof.  .... 

Yours  affectionately, 

J.  M.  LOWRIE. 


From  the  Rev.  Charles  Hodge,  D.  D. 

Princeton,  December  29th,  1847. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  Esa. — 

MY  DEAR  SIR  : — Dr.  Alexander  mentioned  to  me  yesterday,  his 
seeing  the  most  distressing  account,  in  the  paper,  concerning  your 
precious  son.  I  could  hardly  credit  it ;  and  yet  it  was  so  circum- 
stantial, 1  fear  there  is  little  ijoorn  to  hope  it  is  unfounded. 

I  feel  impelled  to  express  to  you  my  sympathy  in  your  profound 
affliction,  though  I  know  such  expressions  are  of  no  avail.  There 
is  no  other  comforter  in  such  cases  than  the  Holy  Ghost.  It  is  his 
office  to  give  consolation,  to  fill  the  soul  with  such  views  of  God, 
and  Christ,  and  eternity,  as  to  enable  it  to  feel  that  our  afflictions, 
which  are  but  for  a  moment,  will  work  out  an  exceeding  weight 
of  glory.  As  he  filled  the  martyrs  with  peace  and  joy  in  the  midst 
of  death,  he  can  fill  even  a  father's  heart  with  gratitude  and  calm 
resignation,  in  yielding  a  son  to  death  for  Christ's  sake.  Alas,  my 
dear  sir,  suppose  your  son  had  fallen  in  battle,  or  been  cut  down 
unprepared  in  the  midst  of  his  sins,  how  different  would  be  your 
feelings  !  Now  you  can  think  of  him,  not  only  as  having  lived 
for  the  Lord,  but  as  dying  for  him,  and  rejoice  in  the  assurance 
that  living  or  dying  he  is  the  Lord's. 

It  must  also  be  a  comfort  to  you  to  have  had  such  a  son,  and  to 
know  that  the  whole  of  our  Church  held  him  in  such  honor, 
looked  upon  him  as  one  of  their  most  valued  and  useful  mission- 
aries, as  pre-eminently  qualified  for  his  work,  and  promising  to  ac- 
complish more  than  almost  any  other  man  for  the  cause  of  Christ 
in  China.  This  consideration  must  indeed  enhance  the  sense  of 
the  greatness  of  your  loss,  but  at  the  same  time  it  must  be  a  con- 
solation to  know  that  his  value  was  appreciated. 

You  do  not  weep  alone ;  the  whole  Church  mourns  with  you  ; 
thousands  of  prayers  will  ascend  for  you,  for  your  children,  for 
China,  for  the  remaining  missionaries,  which  otherwise  had  not 
been  offered,  or  offered  with  far  less  fervor  and  sincerity.  Blessed 
be  God,  even  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Father  of 
mercies,  and  the  God  of  all  comfort ;  may  he  comfort  you  in  all 
your  tribulation,  that  you  may  be  able  to  comfort,  them  which  are 
in  any  trouble,  with  the  comfort  wherewith  you  yourself  are  com- 
forted of  God.  Those  whom  God  exercises  with  great  afflictions, 
are  those  whom  he  designs  greatly  to  bless.  If  we  suffer,  we  shall 
also  reign  with  him.  When  we  see  him.  and  receive  the  assu- 
rance of  his  love,  we  shall  forget  all  we  ever  suffered  for  his  sake. 

To  Mrs.  Lowrie,  and  to  Mr.  John  C.  Lowrie,  I  would  beg  to 

31 


482  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

present  my  sincere  condolence — were,  at  such  a  time,  any  expres- 
sion of  fellowship  of  any  account. 

Praying  God  to  fill  your  heart  with  his  own  fulness,  I  am,  dear 
sir,  very  truly, 

Your  sympathizing  friend  and  fellow-servant, 

CHARLES  HODGE. 


From  the  Rev.  Samuel  Miller,  D.  D. 

Princeton,  December  31st,  1847. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  ESQ. — 

MY  VERY  DEAR  SIR  : — I  trust  I  need  not  say,  that  the  lasl 
melancholy  news  from  China  filled  me  with  heartfelt  sorrow ;  and 
that  the  tenderest  sympathy  for  you,  and  for  the  brothers  of  the 
beloved  man,  whom  a  sovereign  God  has  taken  to  himself,  has 
occupied  my  mind  ever  since  I  received  the  mournful  intelli- 
gence. 

Truly  clouds  and  darkness  are  round  about  the  doings  of  our 
Master  in  heaven;  but  righteousness  and  judgment  are  the  habi- 
tation of  his  throne.  What  He  does  we  know  not  now,  but  we 
shall  know  hereafter.  Had  I  been  left  to  name  a  foreign  mission- 
ary, whose  talents,  and  zeal,  and  peculiar  adaptedness  to  the  work 
in  which  he  was  engaged,  promised  the  largest  amount  of  perma- 
nent usefulness,  1  should,  without  hesitation,  have  mentioned  your 
lamented  son  as  that  man.  But  an  infinitely  wise  God,  who  loves 
the  missionary  cause  unspeakably  more  than  you  or  I,  and  who 
understands  the  best  means  of  promoting  that  cause  unspeakably 
better  than  either  of  us.  has  seen  fit  to  call  him  away,  before  he 
had  reached  the  meridian  of  life,  and  translate  him  to  a  different 
and  higher  field  of  service. 

This  is  indeed,  to  the  eye  of  man,  a  dark  and  mysterious  dis- 
pensation. But  we  know  that  He  who  is  infinite  in  wisdom,  and 
unlimited  in  power,  has  seen  proper  to  order  it  so.  This  is  enough. 
If  we  could  see  the  whole  matter  just  as  it  lies  before  the  mind  of 
the  King  of  Zion,  to  whom  you  and  I  have,  without  reserve,  I 
trust,  dedicated  ourselves,  we  should  be  ready  to  say,  with  unmin- 
gled  joy,  "  He  hath  done  all  things  well." 

The  sources  of  consolation,  my  dear  friend,  which  present  them- 
selves to  you  on  this  occasion,  are  so  multiplied  and  rich,  that  I 
cannot  attempt  to  enumerate  them.  Truly  you  have  reason  to  be 
thankful  that  you  had  such  a  son, — that  he  was  spared  to  you  so  long, 
— that  he  was  enabled  to  give  so  many  testimonies  of  his  zeal  and 
fidelity, — and  that  you  have  so  much  reason  confidently  to  believe, 
that  the  unfeeling  violence  of  barbarians  was  made  the  means  of 
more  speedily  introducing  him  to  eternal  and  unmingled  blessed- 
ness. 

That  the  consolations  of  the  Gospel  may  abound  in  your  heart, 


LETTERS  OP  REV.  DR.  J.  MILLER  AND  REV.  J.  A.  SAVAGE.  483 

and  in  your  family  on  this  mournful  occasion,  is  the  sincere  wish 
and  prayer  of,  my  dear  sir, 

Your  sympathizing  friend  and  brother  in  Christian  bonds, 

SAMUEL  MILLER. 


From  the  Rev.  John  A.  Savage. 

Ogdensburg,  N.  Y,  January  3d,  1848. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  ESQ. — 

MY  DEAR  SIR  : — To  my  inexpressible  sorrow  I  this  morning 
saw  announced  in  a  New  York  paper  the  shocking  death  of  your 
son  Walter.  From  the  circumstances  narrated,  I  cannot  doubt 
but  its  truth  will  be  confirmed  by  the  papers  which  we  shall  get 
by  to-night's  mail.  I  will  not  undertake  the  office  of  condolence 
with  you  under  this  sad,  sad  affliction,  any  further  than  simply 
to  say.  that  in  this  your  affliction  I  am  afflicted.  The  first  parox- 
ysms of  your  grief,  before  this  reaches  you,  will  have  been  suc- 
ceeded, I  doubt  not,  by  a  calm,  submissive  resignation,  leaning 
on  the  arm  of  that  Comforter,  to  whose  fellowship  you  have  long 
had  familiar  access,  of  whom  it  is  written,  "  In  all  their  affliction 
he  was  afflicted,  and  the  angel  of  his  presence  saved  them." 

On  his  visit  to  western  and  northern  New  York,  just  prior  to 
his  departure  for  the  East,  he  was  domesticated  with  us  long 
enough  to  endear  him  to  every  member  of  my  family,  and  many 
in  my  congregation  ;  even  my  children  that  were  just  beginning 
to  prattle,  retain  a  vivid  recollection  of  him,  and  up  to  the  present 
time  have  been  in  the  habit  of  inspecting  the  Chronicle  to  find 
some  notice  of,  or  communication  from  him.  His  memory  will 
be  cherished  by  them,  I  doubt  not.  As  I  spoke  to  them  to-day  of 
the  scene  of  his  death,  the  big  tears  gathered  in  their  eyes,  and 
one  of  them  with  an  expression  of  deep  emotion  said,  "  I  thought 
we  should  see  him  again,  but  now  we  shall  not  till  the  sea  gives 
up  its  dead." 

He  had  taught  them  to  sing  that  beautiful  hymn  commencing 
with  "I  would  not  live  alway,"  ;  and  as  a  singular  coinci- 
dence, last  evening  when  the  family  were  together,  it  was  sung  by 
them,  unconscious  of  the  sad  tidings  that  would  reach  them  on 

the  morrow 

Your  very  affectionate  friend  and  brother, 

JOHN  A.  SAVAGE. 


From  the  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Jones,  D.  D. 

Philadelphia^  December  29th,  1847. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  ESQ. — 

MY  DEAR   FRIEND   AND   BROTHER  : — The   papers  of  this 
morning  confirm  the  news  of  yesterday,  and  I  cannot  doubt  its 


484  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.  I.OWRIE. 

truth.  It  fills  us  all  with  the  deepest  sorrow,  when  we  take  any 
view  of  this  dark  Providence,  but  of  the  gain  that  it  brings  to 
him.  What  a  trial  of  the  faith  of  the  Church  !  Why,  oh,  why, 
was  this  permitted?  Truly  the  footsteps  of  God  are  in  the  deep, 
and  he  giveth  no  account  of  his  matters  to  any  of  us.  You  are 
assured,  dear  brother,  of  the  hearty  condolence  of  all  who  know 
you,  and  know  how  great  your  personal  loss.  But  what  a  privi- 
lege and  honor  to  have  had  such  a  son,  and  to  have  had  him  of- 
fered to  God  on  the  altar  of  such  a  glorious  cause  !  Indeed,  much 
as  our  hearts  ache  with  you  and  for  you,  we  rejoice  more.  We 
think  that  God  has  called  him  out  of  the  vineyard  prematurely  ; 
but  we  are  not  to  be  judges  of  the  dispensations  of  Omniscience. 
May  this  removal  of  an  instrument  on  which  we  were  tempted 
to  lean  so  much,  prove  a  wholesome  admonition  to  the  Church, 
and  bring  us  nearer  to  Christ.  We  are  prone  to  forget  that  He 
can  fulfil  his  purposes  by  "  few"  as  well  as  by  "  many,"  and  that 
He  looks  more  at  the  state  of  our  hearts  than  to  the  number  of 
our  agencies.  Perhaps  I  ought  to  apologize  for  this  intrusion  at 
a  time  when  the  proffered  sympathy  of  friends  can  do  little  more 
than  interrupt  your  communion  with  God ;  but  I  know  that  you 
will  suffer  this  liberty  for  our  sake,  if  not  your  own.  May  He 
"  who  comforteth  us  in  all  our  tribulation"  be  your  comforter  in 
this ;  and  "  as  the  sufferings  of  Christ  abound  in  "  you,  "  so  may 
your  consolation  abound  by  Christ."  What  a  precious  sentiment, 
that  "  it  is  given  us  in  behalf  of  Christ  not  only  to  believe  on  Him 
but  also  to  suffer  for  his  sake." 

Affectionately  and  fraternally  yours, 

JOSEPH  H.  JONES. 


From  the  Rev.  William  S.  Plumer,  D.  D. 

Baltimore,  Md.:  January  1st,  1848. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  ESQ.. — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : — My  heart  has  been  filled  with  sorrow  for 
you  and  for  the  cause  of  Christ,  at  the  sad  intelligence  which  has 
just  reached  us.  I  feel  confounded,  and  called  to  more  than  usual 
humiliation  and  sorrow.  Why  should  one  so  young,  so  devoted, 
and  so  promising,  be  taken,  and  I  who  am  so  unprofitable,  and 
whose  days  must  end  in  the  course  of  nature  so  much  sooner  than 
his  would  have  done,  be  spared  ?  I  cannot  tell.  He  doeth  all 
things  well.  Some  years  ago  I  wrote  a  letter  to  a  bereaved  friend. 
It  was  afterwards  printed  as  a  tract.  I  enclose  a  copy,  hoping  it 
may  comfort  or  soothe  one  who  has  my  highest  respect  and  ten- 
derest  sympathy.*  The  Lord  sustain  you  and -cheer  you  and  bless 
you  !  Do  not  feel  under  any  obligation  to  answer  this.  I  wish 
not  to  intrude  upon  your  privacy  and  the  sacredness  of  your  sor- 

*  American  Tract  Society,  No.  372. 


LETTERS    OP    REV.  DR.    PLUMES    AND  MR.  J.  P.  ENGLES.      485 

row.  My  family,  especially  Mrs.  Plumer,  seem  to  be  as  much 
afflicted  as  if  we  had  lost  a  relative.  The  Lord  bless  you  and 
your  wife  and  all  yours  ! 

Very  truly  and  affectionately  yours, 

WM.  S.  PLUMER. 

From  Joseph  P.  Engles,  Esq. 

Philadelphia,  January  2d,  1848. 
REV.  JOHN  C.  LOWRIE — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : — If  I  had  obeyed  the  impulse  of  my 
feelings,  I  would  have  addressed  you  immediately  after  reading  in 
the  daily  paper,  the  astounding  intelligence  of  the  loss  which  your 
family  have  suffered  in  the  death  of  a  beloved  son  and  brother, 
and  the  Church  and  the  heathen  world,  in  the  departure  of  a  zeal- 
ous and  devoted  missionary.  But  circumstances  hindered,  and 
now  that  I  have  devoted  the  closing  hour  of  the  Sabbath  to  this 
office  of  fraternal  affection,  I  am  at  a  loss  in  what  terms  to  speak 
of  this  solemn  event.  Shall  I  condole  with  you  on  having  lost  a 
brother  so  dearly  and  justly  beloved  ?  Or  shall  I  congratulate  you 
on  having  another  of  your  loved  ones  safely  housed  from  the 
storms  of  time  in  a  mansion  of  eternal  rest  ?  I  have  no  doubt, 
however  opposite  the  states  of  feeling  which  would  call  for  one  or 
the  other  of  these  expressions,  you  have  experienced  them  both. 
May  the  latter  prevail,  and  moderate  the  intensity  of  the  former. 

My  object  is  not  to  suggest  grounds  of  consolation.  You  are  as 
fully  aware  of  them  as  I  can  be,  and  have  already  experienced 
them.  I  only  want  to  give  expression  to  my  own  feelings  of  sor- 
row under  this  dark  and  mysterious  dispensation  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence, and  to  assure  you  that  you  do  not  mourn  alone.  I  had  not 
the  pleasure  of  a  personal  acquaintance  with  your  brother,  but  I 
loved  him  for  your  sake  and  his  work's  sake.  I  beg  you  to  assure 
your  father  of  the  deep  sympathy  which  I,  in  common  with  the 
whole  Christian  world  so  far  as  the  event  is  known,  feel  for  his 
bereavement.  At  his  time  of  life  it  comes  with  fearful  weight,  but 
God,  who  has  enabled  him  to  make  so  many  sacrifices  for  the  mis- 
sionary cause,  will  not  leave  him  to  bear  this  burden  alone.  I 
trust  it  will  stimulate  him  and  us  all,  to  take  a  still  deeper  interest 
in  the  cause.  Dr.  J.  A.  Alexander  alluded  beautifully  to  the 
event  in  his  sermon  this  afternoon.  I  wish  I  could  repeat  the  pas- 
sage. Perhaps  you  may  get  it  from  him.  His  text  was  Rom. 
x.  16.  Mr.  Macklin  also  alluded  to  it  to-night,  and  got  me  to  read 
to  the  congregation  the  impressive  address  of  a  missionary  in 
China  to  the  churches ;  I  hope  not  without  effect. 

Mrs.  Engles  joins  me  in  these  expressions  of  affectionate  sympa- 
thy. We  have  drunk  deep  of  the  cup  of  affliction,  but  the  circum- 
stances of  our  bereavements  do  not  furnish  the  same  strong 
grounds  of  consolation  which  yours  do.  Still  it  is  the  same  wise, 


486  MEMOIR    OF   WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

holy,  gracious  God  who  has  afflicted  us  both,  and  his  will  be 
done. 

O  that  we  may  be  enabled  so  to  improve  the  joys  and  sorrows 
of  this  life,  that  they  may  result  in  eternal  joy. 
Believe  me  to  be  truly 

Your  friend  and  brother, 

Jos.  P.  ENGLES. 


From  the  Rev.  W.  M.  Atkinson,  D.  D. 

Winchester,  Va.,  January  3d,  1848. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  ESQ. — 

DEAR  SIR  : — In  common  with  myriads  of  your  brethren,  I 
mourn  with  you.  In  common  with  them,  I  strive  to  pray  for  you. 
And  we  pray,  as  I  trust  you  "  sorrow,"  "  not  as  they  who  have  no 
hope !"  We  hope  that  the  Lord  will  bless  this  dispensation  to 
your  own  soul,  and  to  the  cause  to  which,  in  subordination  to  Him 
whose  cause  it  is,  your  soul  is  devoted.  The  blood  of  the  martyrs 
has  ever  been  the  seed  of  the  Church,  and  we  trust  that  the  death 
of  our  first  martyr,  may  prove  to  be  life  to  our  beloved  Zion. 
Nothing,  you  know,  tended  so  much  to  the  first  great  spread  of  the 
Apostolic  church,  as  the  death  of  Stephen  and  the  accompanying 
persecution.  So  may  it  be,  so  we  hope  it  will  be,  in  the  present 
instance.  We  trust  that  your  expiring  Walter  may  prove  to  have 
been,  in  his  holy  warfare,  a  dying  Samson.  And  we  are  assured 
that  He  who  bade  Peter  come  to  him  on  the  boisterous  sea,  caused 
his  young  servant  to  meet  him  there  ;  and  if  HE  selected  for  him 
that  way  as  the  best  way  to  heaven,  and  that  hour  as  the  best 
time,  what  are  we  that  we  should  gainsay  it?  The  sea  cannot 
hold  his  body  always,  for  the  sea  shall  give  up  its  dead ;  and  even 
now  his  spirit  is  with  God  who  gave  it.  If  God  has  been  pleased 
early  to  give  him  the  victory,  and  to  crown  him  with  the  glory  of 
the  conqueror,  why  should  we  desire  him  to  have  been  kept  longer 
in  the  strife  and  the  turmoil  of  the  battle-field? 

Think  of  him  as  faith  now  tells  you  he  is, — with  Christ,  which 
is  far  better  than  even  to  labor  successfully  for  the  Church  :  think 
of  him  in  glory,  and  far  more  wisely  than  old  Ormond  said  them, 
may  you  repeat  his  words  over  his  accomplished  son.  "  So  much," 
I  have  sometimes  thought,  when  I  have  mourned  over  a  dear 
child  snatched  from  me,  "so  much  I  have  realized ;  one  most 
precious  portion  of  my  wealth  is  safe — forever  !" 

I  never  met  your  son  personally,  but  John,  my  brother,  who 
was  his  fellow-student,  loved  and  honored  him,  and  had  taught 
me  to  do  the  same ;  and  all  that  I  have  heard  from  others,  seemed 
but  to  deepen  the  impression  his  statements  made.  To  death,  the 
universal  token  of  God's  hatred  of  sin,  he  must  at  some  time  have 
bowed,  and  God  knew  the  best  time. 

The  narrative  given  by  Mr.  Loomis  of  the  calm  and  fearless 


LETTERS    OF   THE    REV.    DRS.    ATKINSON    AND   POOTE.      487 

dignity  with  which  he  met  it,  under  circumstances  so  appalling  to 
flesh  and  blood,  is  most  impressively  sublime.  It  was  an  end  be- 
fitting such  a  life.  And  when  my  rnind  dwells  upon  it,  I  feel  that 
congratulation  is  almost  as  much  called  for  as  condolence.  And 
yet,  the  more  admirable  he  was,  the  greater  is  the  bereavement. 
But  there  is  a  comforter,  whose  presence  would  compensate  for  the 
removal  of  the  human  body  and  soul  of  Christ  himself.  To  that 
comforter  I  commend  you  and  your  afflicted  family,  especially 
those  of  them  I  have  the  privilege  to  know,  Mrs.  Lowrie  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  J.  C.  Lowrie. 
I  am,  my  dear  sir, 

Your  friend  and  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  M.  ATKINSON. 

N.  B.  Can  we  be  truly  said  to  be  bereaved  or  desolate,  while 
Christ  lives  and  is  ours  ? 

W.  M.  A. 


From  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Foote,  D.  D. 

Romney,  Va.,  January  6th,  1848. 
BROTHER  LOWRIE — 

On  Monday  I  read  the  letter  from  China.  My  wife  and  myself 
have  sympathized  with  you  and  your  family  in  this  sacrifice  for 
the  cause  of  God.  I  can  but  hope  that  your  faith  has  already 
gotten  the  victory  over  nature.  It  seems  to  me  that  there  would 
be  a  bitterness  in  the  manner  of  his  death,  that  would  be  unal- 
loyed but  for  the  blessed  fact,  that  the  Lord  God  Omnipotent 
reigns,  and  has  given  all  things  into  the  hands  of  Christ,  who  has 
permitted  this  event  to  take  place  as  one  of  the  preparatory  ones 
in  the  conversion  of  China.  Looking  at  it  thus,  the  grace  of  God 
can  make  you  feel,  the  will  of  God  be  done.  I  do  not  say,  my 
brother,  that  I  could  say  so  in  any  such  trial :  I  kniow  myself  too 
well  to  say  I  could  bear  any  cross.  But  I  know  God  can  help  you 
to  bear  yours  ;  and  our  prayer  is,  that  God  will  enable  you  to  re- 
joice in  his  government  and  grace. 

You  have  long  desired  the  conversion  of  China,  and  God  has 
set  it  at  a  terrible  price.  I  do  not  say  that  I  could  pay  it,  but  I 
pray  that  you  may.  And  when  was  a  nation  bought  without 
blood, — the  blood  of  Christ  first,  and  of  Christians  afterwards? 
What  did  Paul  mean  by  filling  up  in  his  flesh  a  measure  of  suf- 
fering ?  Not  that  he  added  anything  to  Christ's,  but  that  the  suf- 
ferings of  his  Lord  flowed  through  that  channel.  O  who  can  tell 
but  the  channel  is  opened  from  your  veins  to  let  the  peace-speaking 
blood  of  Christ  flow  to  that  poor,  perishing  nation  ? 

My  wife  joins  her  sympathies  with  mine,  and  has  been  asking 
herself,  if  she  could  give  up  her  little  child  a  sacrifice  for  God 


MEMOIR    OF    WALTER   M.  LOWRIE. 

What  a  blessed  text  is  that  which  promises  strength  according  to 
our  day.     May  God  help  you  in  this  day  of  your  trouble ! 
Yours  sincerely,  in  the  best  of  bonds, 

W.  HENRY  FOOTE. 


From  the  Rev.  William  C.  Anderson,  D.  D. 

Dayton,  Ohio,  January  7th,  1848. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  Esa. — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER: — God's  "ways  are  not  as  ours,  neither 
are  his  thoughts  as  our  thoughts."  To  our  poor,  finite  minds, 
these  ways  of  his  are  often  in  the  deep  waters  ;  yet  are  they  right 
ways.  Although  the  journey  of  Israel  was  to  them  inexplicable, 
yet  it  was  the  right  way  :  "  He  led  them  forth  by  the  right  way." 
And  so,  my  dear  brother,  is  it  now.  He  has  ever  led  you  by  the 
right  way  ;  and  even  this  last  painful  path  along  which  he  has 
carried  you,  is  a  right  one.  I  cannot  see  how;  but  I  know  it  is 
a  right  way. 

My  object  in  this  note,  however,  is  not  to  offer  consolation,  or 
in  any  way  intrude  upon  your  domestic  griefs  :  the  source  of  con- 
solation you  know,  without  advice,  and  your  griefs  a  stranger 
may  not  meddle  with.  I  write  simply  to  assure  you  of  my  pro- 
found sympathy  with  you  in  this  strange  visitation  of  your  Master. 
I  try  to  pray  that  God  may  bestow  upon  you  all  the  consolation 
you  need.  Please  accept  the  assurance  of  the  sympathies  of  Mrs. 
Anderson  and  myself  with  yourself  and  family  in  this  hour  of 
your  affliction. 

In  addition  to  the  great  consolation  which  the  certainty  of  your 
dear  son's  everlasting  safety  furnishes,  let  me  name  the  fact,  that 
he  fell  at  his  post.  My  dear  brother,  is  there  not  much  comfort 
in  this  fact?  When  the  Master  came,  he  found  your  son  with  the 
armor  on — he  fell  in  the  trenches  ;  and,  like  his  blessed  Master, 
fell  by  the  hands  of  those  he  went  to  save.  We  can  ill  spare  him, 
but  thy  will,  O  God,  be  done  ! 

My  brother,  you  long  since  gave  up  yourself,  and  family,  and 
all,  to  the  great  work  of  missions ; — well,  the  Master,  you  see,  is 
taking  you  at  your  offer.  Be  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  toil  on. 
Mrs.  A.  joins  in  much  love  to  you  and  your  family.  We  would 
be  pleased  always  to  hear  from  you,  if  your  many  and  heavy 
labors  would  allow  it. 

In  the  bonds  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  your  brother, 

W.  C.  ANDERSON. 

From  Rev.  Loyal  Young. 

Butler,  Pa.  January  26th,  1848. 
REV.  JOHN  C.  LOWRIE — 

MY  VERY  DEAR  BROTHER  : — I  trust  that  it  is  not  altogether 
too  late  to  express  to  you  what  I  have  felt  and  still  feel,  in  view  of 


LETTERS  OF  REV.  DRS.  ANDERSON  AND  CAMPBELL.    489 

the  violent  death  of  your — of  our — brother,  endeared  to  the  church 
of  Christ,  and  to  none  more  than  to  myself.  Never  has  a  death 
occurred  since  my  residence  here,  that  produced  such  a  sensation 
in  Butler.  The  people  of  God  have  many  of  them  often  spoken 
to  me  about  his  last  visit  to  us  as  peculiarly  interesting.  Some 
of  them  when  leading  in  prayer  at  the  Monthly  Concert,  always 
remembered  him  in  their  petitions.  They  all  hoped  that  since  he 
outrode  the  storms  in  safety,  and  escaped  the  dangers  of  the 
ocean,  he  was  destined  to  be  preserved  still  further  for  great  use- 
fulness to  the  Church.  But  God's  method  of  accomplishing  his 
purposes  is  altogether  different  from  our  expectations.  I  need 
not  say  to  you,  dear  brother,  that  it  is  all  right, — all  for  the  best, 
— all  in  mercy.  I  know  that  you  have  already  gone,  and  often 
gone,  to  the  fountain  of  consolation ;  and  heard  the  Saviour  say, 
"  Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give  unto  you  ;  not  as  the 
world  giveth  give  I  unto  you.  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled, 
neither  let  it  be  afraid."  I  know  that  you  long  since  committed 
that  dear  brother  to  the  care  of  the  Lord,  and  felt  perfectly  satis- 
fied that  he  would  do  with  him  what  was  right.  And  now  that 
He  has  taken  him  to  his  own  arms,  to  the  abode  of  your  beloved 
Louisa,  of  your  precious  mother,  of  your  babes,  of  your  dear  sis- 
ter Eliza,  and  of  your  noble  brother  Mathew,  you  have  it  not  in 
your  heart  to  repine.  Dear  brother,  the  attractions  of  heaven  are 
gathering  strength  continually.  How  joyous  will  be  the  meeting 
at  last ! 

But  we  could  have  wished  that  Walter  had  met  with  a  different 
death.  The  first  account  must  have  been  painful  to  you  in  the 
extreme.  Well  did  our  Saviour  exhort  his  disciples,  "  Beware  of 
men"  The  elements  might  combine  to  destroy ;  the  sea  might 
threaten  to  devour,  during  that  terrific  storm  which  lasted  for 
days  and  nights,  when  your  brother  was  in  the  long-boat,  tossed 
about,  as  a  feather ;  but  there  was  no  evil  to  be  apprehended  from 
them.  It  belonged  to  men,  cruel  men,  to  do  the  deed.  "  Beware 
of  men."  But  the  last  struggle  was  soon  over,  no  doubt ;  and  his 
spirit  received  to  rest.  All  that  is  painful  now,  in  the  case,  is  the 
loss  of  such  a  missionary.  We  thought  he  could  not  be  spared. 
God  thought  otherwise.  "  His  thoughts  are  not  as  our  thoughts, 
nor  his  ways  as  our  ways."  .... 

Yours  in  Christ, 

LOYAL  YOUNG. 


From  the  Rev.  John  N.  Campbell,  D.  D. 

Albany,  N.  Y.,  January  31st,  1848. 
WALTER  LOWRIE,  ESQ. — 

MY  DEAR  SIR  : — I  have  been  quite  sick  for  several  weeks  past 
with  influenza,  or  I  would  not  have  delayed  so  long  to  express  to 
you  how  sincerely  I  sympathize  with  you  in  the  very  sore  aftu'c- 


490  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

tion  with  which  it  has  seemed  good  to  our  Heavenly  Father  to 
try  you.  I  have  a  vivid  recollection  of  your  son,  whom  I  saw 
during  the  examinations  of  the  Seminary  in  two  successive  years. 
He  made  a  strong  impression  on  me,  and  I  remember  well  the 
surprise  and  pleasure  with  which  I  learned  that  one 'so  well  quali- 
fied by  natural  endowments  and  accomplishments,  and  apparently 
so  well  fitted  by  grace  for  the  missionary  work,  had  devoted  him- 
self to  the  Master  in  that  self-denying  and  laborious  department 
of  the  ministry.  How  mysterious  his  removal  and  manner  of  it 
— so  early — at  a  moment  of  such  promise — by  violence  !  But 
what  we  know  not  now  about  the  Master's  doings  we  shall  know 
hereafter.  We  shall  see  then,  and  say  with  unutterable  gratitude 
and  joy,  what  we  can  utter  now  often  only  with  a  trembling 
voice  and  a  broken  heart,  "  He  hath  done  all  things  well." 

I  have  read  Bishop  Boone's  letter  with  great  interest.  He  has 
there  a  favorite  thought  of  my  own,  that  the  work  of  the  Church 
triumphant  is  the  work  of  missions.  I  confidently  believe  that 
your  son  has  changed,  not  his  occupation,  but  only  the  sphere  of 
his  labors. 

I  beg  you  to  accept  for  yourself  and  family,  particularly  for  my 
friend,  your  elder  son,  the  assurance  of  my  deep  sympathy  in 
your  affliction,  and  to  believe  me, 

Very  truly,         JOHN  N.  CAMPBELL. 


From  Mrs.  A.  H.  Richardson,  England. 

Newcastle-on-Tyne,  1st  month,  13th,  1848. 
MY  DEAR  AND  HONORED  FRIEND — 

My  heart  ached  as  I  read  thy  kind  letter  of  the  llth  ult.,  for  its 
calm  and  cheerful  tone  showed  but  too  plainly  that  the  afflicting 
intelligence  that  had  reached  us  some  weeks  previous,  had  not 
arrived  at  New  York  when  that  letter  was  penned.  I  suppose  the 
news  must  have  come  by  the  overland  mail.  It  met  my  eye  in- 
cidentally in  one  of  our  local  newspapers,  but  every  circumstance 
connected  with  the  afflictive  event  seemed  too  surely  marked  to 
admit  of  a  doubt  as  to  its  correctness. 

We  have  grieved  for,  and  with  you  all,  my  dear  and  beloved 
friend,  but  more  especially  for  the  fond  and  affectionate  father, 
whose  heart  will  have  been  wrung  to  the  very  uttermost.  And 
yet,  perhaps,  I  should  hardly  use  that  word,  for  thy  son  has  fallen 
as  one  of  "the  noble  army  of  martyrs," — true  to  his  God — true 
to  the  last,  to  the  cause  of  his  Saviour,  and  when  the  first  shock  is 
over,  this  will  be  a  cause  of  thankful  rejoicing. 

I  must  not  say  much.  The  wound  is  too  recent,  and  your  hearts 
will  still  be  bleeding  most  sorely,  and  yet  I  think  I  cannot  let  another 
post  go  out.  without  assuring  you,  one  and  all,  of  our  deep,  and 
tender,  and  affectionate  sympathy,  and  of  our  fervent  desires  that 
this  intense  trial  may  be  overruled  for  your  own  good,  and  for  the 


NOTICE    BY    THE    RT.    REV.    G.    SMITH.  491 

good  of  the  Christian  Church.  "The  blood  of  the  martyrs  is  the 
seed  of  that  Church,"  and  who  is  to  say  how  unseen  good  may 
be  permitted  to  arise  out  of  this  most  severe  and  bitter  trial  ?  .  .  . 

As  the  account  came  to  us,  however  afflicting,  it  bore  a  beautiful 
and  voluntary  testimony  to  the  noble  bearing  of  the  departed — that 
there  had  not  been  the  smallest  aggravation  or  provocation  against 
these  cruel  men  on  his  part,  or  on  the  part  of  those  around  him.  Ho\v 
increasingly  impressive  does  this  render  the  event!  No  bad  man's 
soul  was  sent  into  eternity  on  this  sad  occasion,  but  the  sufferer 
calmly  bowed  his  head,  and  presently  was  welcomed  by  ministering 
angels  from  a  world  of  wickedness  to  one  of  everlasting  blessedness. 
O  my  friend,  through  all  the  sorrow  there  must  be  joy  in  this.  His 
God  and  thy  God  will  not  forsake,  nor  hide  his  face  from  any  one 
of  you  in  this  hour  of  nature's  severest  agony,  but  will  smile  gra- 
ciously upon  you,  and  Jesus  will  again  utter  the  words — "  In  the 
world  ye  shall  have  tribulation,  but  be  of  good  cheer.  I  have  over- 
come the  world." 

I  know  quite  well  that  I  ought  not  to  look  for  a  letter  for  a  good 
while  to  come,  but  whenever  thou  canst  kindly  favor  me  with  a 
few  lines  to  say  how  you  all  are,  they  would  be  very  gratefully 
received. 

With  cordial,  affectionate,  and  sympathizing  regards,  thine,  my 
dear  friend,  with  the  sincerest  esteem, 

ANNA  H.  RICHARDSON. 


REMARKS    ON    THE    DEATH    OF    THE    REV.  WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

By  the  Rt.  Rev.  George  Smith,  D.D. 

The  following  article  is  taken  from  an  English  Magazine,  of 
August,  1848,  the  Church  Missionary  Gleaner,  where  it  appeared 
as  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  departed  missionary.  It  will  be 
read  with  interest,  as  coming  from  the  pen  of  an  English  Episco- 
pal missionary  in  China,  and  a  personal  friend  of  the  deceased, 
the  Right  Rev.  George  Smith,  Bishop  of  the  Church  of  England 
at  Hong  Kong : 

The  dispensations  of  Providence  are  often  enveloped  in  a  depth 
of  mystery,  which  the  poor  fallible  comprehension  of  man  is  un- 
able to  fathom.  This  is  in  an  especial  manner  the  case  in  reference 
to  missionary  labors.  Human  instruments,  of  whose  adaptation 
to  missionary  usefulness  great  hopes  were  entertained,  are  one  by 
one  removed  from  the  scene  of  their  labors,  by  the  failure  of 
health,  or  by  the  hand  of  premature  death.  An  important  lesson 
is  conveyed  to  our  minds — that  God  is  independent  of  the  instru- 
ment in  the  carrying  forward  His  purposes  of  love  to  our  fa  I  en 
world  ;  and,  by  snapping  asunder  the  cord  of  human  expectations, 
He  sounds  in  mortal  ears  the  often-needed  admonition,  Cease  ye 
from  man ! 

These  remarks  have  been  drawn  forth  by  a  piece  of  intelligence 


492  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

of  a  most  affecting  and  heart-rending  nature.  The  subject  of 
this  brief  notice  is  the  late  Rev.  W.  M.  Lowrie,  a  missionary  of 
the  American  General  Assembly's  Board  of  Foreign  Missions. 
Highly  gifted  with  mental  endowments  of  the  first  order,  and 
eminent  for  his  simple  and  unaffected  piety,  Mr.  Lowrie  seemed, 
to  human  eye,  likely  to  become  a  laborer  of  no  ordinary  value  in 
the  missionary  vineyard. 

His  father  was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  His  eldest  sou  went  to  India  as  a  missionary, 
where,  his  wife  -having  been  removed  from  this  life  in  Calcutta, 
the  insalubrity  of  the  climate  soon  removed  himself  from  the 
missionary  field.  His  third  son,  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  went 
to  China  in  1842,  as  one  of  the  first  missionaries  from  the  Ameri- 
can Presbyterian  Church  to  that  vast  field  of  missionary  enter- 
prise. Here  many  dangers  awaited  him,  from  which  a  gracious 
Providence  interposed  to  deliver  him  until  his  appointed  work  was 
done.  The  first  occurred  in  his  voyage  to  Singapore ;  but  the 
vessel  struck  on  a  shoal,  and  in  a  few  hours  went  to  pieces.  Mr. 
Lowrie  and  his  fellow-passengers  with  difficulty  escaped  from  the 
wreck  in  two  small  open  boats.  With  only  the  clothes  they  had 
on  their  bodies,  and  a  small  stock  of  provisions,  they  found  them- 
selves alone  on  the  broad  ocean,  at  a  distance  of  five  hundred 
miles  from  the  nearest  land.  While  in  this  unprotected  state  they 
were  exposed  to  the  violence  of  a  severe  typhoon  ;  and  their  pres- 
ervation from  a  watery  grave  was  almost  miraculous.  They  at 
length  reached  the  shore  of  one  of  the  Phillipine  islands,  where 
they  were  kindly  treated  by  the  Indians  ;  but  they  lost  four  men 
in  approaching  the  surf,  by  which  one  of  the  boats  was  capsized. 
The  moment  after  they  reached  the  land,  by  an  almost  involun- 
tary act  of  thankfulness,  every  man  in  that  mingled  company  fell 
on  his  knees  on  the  unknown  soil,  and  offered  up  his  praise  to  the 
great  Author  of  their  deliverance.  Mr.  Lowrie  subsequently  ar- 
rived at  the  Spanish  Colony  of  Manila,  from  which  he  found  an 
opportunity  of  returning  to  Macao.  At  another  period  he  em- 
barked for  the  north  of  China,  when  he  was  overtaken  by  a  vio- 
lent gale,  and  compelled  to  return  to  Macao.  Here  he  pursued  his 
ministerial  labors  among  the  European  and  American  residents, 
to  some  of  whom  his  ministrations  were  greatly  blessed.  After  a 
course  of  Chinese  studies,  he  proceeded,  in  1845,  to  the  newly- 
formed  station  of  Ningpo,  where  the  writer  of  this  short  account 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  a  friend  whose  catholicity  of 
spirit,  self-denying  zeal,  unwearied  industry,  and  cordial  co-opera- 
tion in  every  good  work,  will  ever  endear  his  name  to  the  whole 
body  of  his  fellow-laborers,  and  will,  it  is  hoped,  embalm  his 
memory  in  the  grateful  recollections  of  many  Chinese  listeners  to 
the  message  of  redeeming  love. 

In  the  month  of  June  last,  Mr.  Lowrie  proceeded  from  Ningpo 
to  Shanghai,  as  the  delegate  from  his  station  to  the  General  Com- 
mittee of  Protestant  missionaries  assembled  at  the  latter  station, 


NOTICE    FROM    THE    SOUTHERN    PRESBYTERIAN.  493 

to  complete  the  revised  translation  of  the  New  Testament  into 
Chinese.  For  this  important  work  his  superior  education  and 
diligent  studies  had  peculiarly  fitted  him.  This  last  duty  he  had 
been  enabled  to  aid  in  accomplishing ;  and  a  part  of  the  New 
Testament  was  now  given  to  the  Chinese  in  their  own  tongue, 
as  the  result  of  the  united  labors  of  the  various  Protestant  mis- 
sionary societies  in  China.  He  then  sailed  from  Shanghai  on  his 
return,  as  he  thought,  to  Ningpo;  but  he  was  about  to  take  a 
more  important  voyage,  which  was  to  conduct  him  to  those  peace- 
ful shores  where  there  would  be  no  tempests  nor  storms,  "where 
there  would  be  no  more  sorrow,  and  no  more  sin."  He  had 
passed  through  the  Bay  of  Chapoo,  when  the  vessel  in  which  he 
was  sailing  was  attacked  by  a  Chinese  pirate-boat.  The  pirates 
succeeded  in  boarding  the  vessel,  and  our  dear  departed  brother 
was  thrown  into  the  deep,  and  found  a  watery  grave  in  the  ocean's 
billows. 

His  loss  will  be  deeply  deplored,  and  not  least  by  his  aged  and 
beloved  parents ;  who,  however,  can  reflect,  for  their  comfort,  that 
their  son  has  fallen  in  the  noblest  of  causes.  But  a  few  years  will 
have  passed  away  when  the  most  successful  votaries  of  this  world, 
and  the  most  distinguished  heroes  of  martial  fame,  would  gladly 
exchange  all  the  laurels  entwined  by  mortal  hands  around  their 
brow  for  one  ray  of  that  heavenly  peace,  and  one  gleam  of  that 
unfading  joy,  which  silently  irradiates  a  missionary's  grave. 


SUNDAY  THOUGHTS  OF  A  LAYMAN. 

Rev.  Walter  M.  Lowrie. 

The  death  of  this  eminent  man,  and  devoted  Missionary  of  the 
Cross,  is  an  event  which  has  more  deeply  moved  the  sensibilities 
of  the  Church  than  any  other  of  recent  occurrence.  The  death  of 
any  man  under  such  revolting  circumstances,  would  excite  the 
sympathies,  and  deeply  pain  the  hearts  of  all  who  knew  him. 
Here  is  one  whose  piety,  talents  and  position  made  him  known  to 
the  whole  Christian  world,  suddenly  taken  from  time  to  eternity, 
by  murder.  The  horrors  of  such  a  death,  to  any  but  the  real 
Christian,  must  be  inconceivably  great.  To  him,  even  such  a 
death  was  peaceful.  It  came  without  warning,  amid  the  soli- 
tude of  a  dreary  sea,  far,  far  away  from  kindred — from  sympathy 
— from  the  rites  of  Christian  society — from  the  means  of  Christian 
sepulture — from  all  the  charities  arid  endearments  of  that  sweet 
and  sacred  place,  home.  Yet  he  quailed  not  before  the  destroyer. 
He  fell  with  his  armor  on.  He  died  in  sacred  harness.  His  lamp 
was  trimmed  and  burning.  God  was  with  him.  The  moan  of 
the  deep  sea  was  his  requiem,  and  the  winds  which  swept  wildly 
over  its  wastes,  pealed  his  song  of  triumph.  He  now  stands  be- 
fore the  Almighty  throne.  He  sees  as  he  is  seen— he  knows  as 


494  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

he  is  known,  and  realizes  the  bliss  and  the  glory  of  Heaven.  As 
Christians,  we  may  not  lament  on  his  account.  For  ourselves, 
our  children,  and  the  bereaved  heathen,  we  ought  to  weep. 

In  many  particulars  Mr.  Lowrie  was  a  remarkable  man.  His 
natural  gifts,  which  were  eminent  in  their  variety  and  richness, 
were  elaborately  cultivated.  He  was  a  thoroughly  educated  man. 
Genius  and  culture,  like  his,  could  have  commanded  the  wealth, 
the  honors,  and  the  admiration  of  the  world.  He  preferred  the 
riches  of  grace,  the  honor  of  God's  favor,  the  admiration  of  angels. 
He  was  lovely  and  attractive  in  his  temper  and  manners.  This 
is  manifest  in  the  affectionate  regrets,  which  have  already  poured 
spontaneously  forth,  from  every  sect,  realm  and  region,  where  he 
was  known. 

His  taste  in  letters  was  accurate  and  refined.  Those  who  have 
perused  his  letters,  essays,  sermons,  and  the  admirable  narrative 
of  the  wreck  of  the  Harmony,  as  well  as  those  who  were  favored 
with  his  personal  acquaintance,  attest  that  he  was  not  only  a 
scholar,  but  an  eminent  rhetorician. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  a  profound  scholar,  thoroughly  furnished 
with  the  learning  of  the  age,  and  particularly  well  informed  in  the- 
ology and  sacred  literature.  The  venerable  school  of  the  Prophets 
at  Princeton,  sent  him  forth  with  the  spirit  and  the  intellectual 
furniture  of  such  men  as  Doctor  Alexander,  and  Doctor  Miller. 

He  was  remarkable  in  his  early  and  absolute  consecration  to  the 
service  of  God  as  a  missionary.  His  own  wish  seems  to  have 
been  to  labor  in  Africa,  the  darkest  of  all  the  continents  ;  choosing 
.that  field,  as  it  would  seem,  because  of  the  greater  sacrifice  which 
it  would  require.  Yielding  to  the  wishes  of  the  Church,  he  gave 
himself  to  China,  and  there  he  became  remarkable  for  his  Chris- 
tian enterprise,  discretion,  courage,  patience,  and  laborious  studies. 

His  death  is  remarkable  for  the  manner  of  it,  by  piracy  and 
murder,  and  at  the  time  when  it  occurred.  When  he  was  begin- 
ning to  be  fitted  for  his  work, — when  the  eyes  of  all  Christendom 
were  bent  upon  him, — when  that  hitherto  closed  empire  was  open- 
ing wide  her  arms  to  receive  him  and  to  embrace  the  Gospel, — in 
the  prime  of  early  manhood  ;  then  it  was  that  the  summons  came, 
and  he  departed,  leaving  the  world  amazed  and  awe-stricken  with 
the  mystery  of  the  Providence.  God  seems  to  have  raised  him 
high,  very  high,  that  the  attention  of  all  men  might  be  drawn  to 
him,  in  order  to  make  his  death  impressive,  and  as  I  think,  in- 
structive. It  is  not  my  purpose  to  sketch,  even  in  outline,  the  life 
of  our  beloved  brother,  or  to  attempt  an  analysis  of  his  character. 
These  remarks  are  intended  to  introduce  the  following  brief  re- 
flections : — 

Mysterious  as  is  the  providence  of  God  in  taking  from  his  own 
work  such  a  man,  and  at  such  a  time,  there  are  reasons  for  it 
which  lie  open  to  Christian  observation.  We  are  to  reflect  that  he 
had  already  accomplished  much,  and  that  his  name  and  charac- 
ter, his  life  and  labors,  do  not  die.  Though  dead  he  yet  speaketh. 


NOTICE    FROM    THE    SOUTHERN    PRESBYTERIAN.  495 

He  is  still  a  great  teacher  upon  earth  ;  his  example  will  be  a  stimu- 
lant and  an  encouragement  to  all  missionaries  for  ages  to  come. 
He  is  one  of  the  martyrs  whose  blood  is  the  seed  of  the  Church. 
His  ocean  grave  will  be  the  point  around  which  will  rally  the 
faith,  the  energies,  and  the  triumphs  of  the  missionary  spirit.  His 
name  belongs  to  that  scroll  where  are  inscribed  the  names  of  Mar- 
ty n,  Morrison,  and  Mills.  The  memory  of  such  men  is  the  unc- 
tion of  the  missionary  cause. 

We  are  to  remember  that  he  is  not  dead,  but  changed  and  re- 
moved. Who  shall  say,  that  the,  great  Parent,  in  the  sublime 
benevolence  of  his  nature,  looked  not  upon  his  toiling  and  suffer- 
ing child,  and  saw  him  ripe  for  glory,  and  in  inappreciable  tender- 
ness, called  him  home  to  his  own  bosom  !  Who  shall  say,  that 
in  the  eternal  ordinations,  the  time  for  his  reward  had  not  arrived  ! 
And  why  should  we  repine  that  he,  a  star  in  our  moral  firmament, 
is  removed  to  burn  more  gloriously  in  the  firmament  of  Heaven? 
Let  us  beware  lest  our  sorrows  asslime  the  character  of  selfishness. 

He  is  removed  to  some  higher,  holier,  and  happier  sphere  of 
service.  This  life  is  but  the  starting  point  of  being — this  theatre 
of  action,  but  a  place  of  pupilage.  The  training  of  time  is  pre- 
paratory discipline,  to  fit  us  for  the  duties  which  await  us  in  eter- 
nity. We  do  not  realize  this,  yet  it  is  true.  What  that  service  is, 
we  know  not.  But  this  we  believe,  that  it  is  adapted  to  the  ener- 
gies and  capabilities  of  a  ransomed  and  disembodied  spirit ;  it  is 
consistent  with  the  will  of  God,  and  compatible  with  supreme 
happiness  and  perfect  holiness.  Had  the  Missionary  Board  removed 
Mr.  Lowrie  from  China  to  some  other  station  of  higher  responsi- 
bility and  more  happy  adaptation  to  his  capabilities  for  serving, 
however  his  co-laborers  there  might  have  regretted  his  absence 
from  them,  they  could  not  condemn  the  act ;  they  could  not, 
therefore,  believe  him  dead,  or  lost  to  the  Church,  or  insensible  to 
their  affection.  And  why  should  they  now  ?  God  has  removed 
him.  Shall  not  the  Lord  of  all  the  earth  do  right?  He  required 
him  at  some  point  in  the  boundless  range  of  his  dominion,  to  do 
something  for  which  his  intellectual  development,  and  his  maturity 
in  grace,  when  adapted  to  his  new  state  of  being,  precisely  fitted 
him.  So  that  he  lives  yet,  and  still  works,  but  suffers  not.  A 
little  bold  and  decided  thought,  a  little  more  than  our  accustomed 
abstraction  from  things  sensual,  a  little  more  determined  exercise 
of  faith,  will  enable  us  to  unite  things  temporal  wiih  things  eter- 
nal— to  blend  times  past,  present,  and  to  come,  and  to  reconcile 
us  to  the  ways  of  God. 

The  reason  why  so  little  comparatively  is  done  by  our  churches 
for  foreign  missions,  why  our  prayers  are  so  powerless — our  at- 
tendance upon  the  Monthly  Concert  so  constrained  and  laggard,  is 
the  want  of  a  clear,  strong,  and  abiding  conviction  that  God  in- 
tends to  convert  the  heathen  world.  Upon  this  subject  we  are 
prone  to  be  skeptical.  We  are  staggered  by  the  greatness  of  the 
work,  by  the  smallness  of  the  visible  results,  and  the  disproportion 


490  MEMOIR    OP    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

of  the  means  to  the  end.  We  forget  that  the  work  is  his  as  well 
as  ours,  that  the  resources  of  all  the  earth  belong  to  him,  that 
commerce  is  his  agent,  and  nations  are  his  ministers ;  that  his 
omnipotence  is  pledged  to  its  accomplishment,  and  that  with  him 
one  day  is  as  a  thousand  years,  and  a  thousand  years  as  one  day. 
The  consequence  is  a  temporizing,  lame  performance  of  mission- 
ary duties.  Another  consequence  is,  dependence  upon  the  means, 
a  looking  to  them  and  not  to  God.  The  missionary  spirit  is  as 
much  a  grace  in  the  heart  as  it  is  a  virtue  in  the  life.  We  ought 
to  do  our  duty,  and  leave  results  with  God.  Whether  they  follow 
in  one  or  a  thousand  years,  is  absolutely,  unconditionally,  with 
Him.  Now  the  sudden  and  signal  death  of  Mr.  Lowrie  was,  no 
doubt,  designed  to  withdraw  our  confidence  from  men  and  means, 
and  fix  it  upon  God. 

Again,  the  luke\varmness  of  the  Church — be  the  cause  what  it 
may — in  the  cause  of  missions,  must  be  conceded.  May  we  not, 
are  we  not  constrained  to  belteve,  that  Providence  intends  this 
event  to  arouse  the  Church  to  effort  I  It  is  a  rebuke  uttered  by 
the  voice  of  the  Almighty,  the  blast  of  a  trumpet,  which  shall  wax 
louder  and  louder,  until  its  peals  shall  awake  the  dead  energies 
of  Protestantism.  It  is  the  sign  of  the  Divine  anger,  hung  so 
high  that  all  may  see  it.  Under  the  chastisements  of  Heaven,  let 
the  spirit  of  the  good  man  bow  down  in  deep  contrition  ;  but  let 
his  faith  revive  with  elastic  power,  and  display  its  energies  in 
every  good  word  and  work. — Southern  Presbyterian^  Feb.  23, 1849. 


REMARKS    ON    THE    DEATH    OF    THE    REV.  WALTER    M.    LOWRIE, 

By  the  Rev.  A.  Alexander,  D.  D. 

The  mournful  tidings  of  this  disastrous  event  has  sent  a  pang 
of  grief  to  the  hearts  of  thousands  in  our  Church  and  in  our  coun- 
try. The  loss  of  such  a  man,  and  in  such  a  way,  is,  indeed,  a 
deplorable  thing.  Christianity  was  never  intended  to  destroy  the 
natural  feelings  of  humanity,  but  to  regulate  anjl  refine  them.  In 
Holy  Scripture  we  find  that  the  pious  gave  free  indulgence  to  their 
feelings  of  sorrow,  on  account  of  the  death"  of  good  and  great 
men.  When  Abner  was  treacherously  murdered  by  Joab,  king 
David  "  lifted  up  his  voice  and  wept  at  the  grave  of  Abner  ;  and 
all  the  people  wept.  And  the  king  lamented  over  Abner."  So, 
also,  when  the  pious  king  Josiah  was  slain  in  the  flower  of  his 
age,  "  All  Judah  and  Jerusalem  mourned  for  Josiah:  and  Jere- 
miah lamented  for  Josiah.  And  all  the  singing  men  and  singing 
women  spake  of  Josiah  in  their  lamentations."  We  have,  more- 
over, in  the  New  Testament  an  example  of  the  same  kind  in 
the  primitive  church  at  Jerusalem,  when  Stephen,  "a  man  full 
of  wisdom  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,"  was  stoned  to  death  by  the 
Jews.  This  man  stood  conspicuous  among  the  disciples  of  Christ 


REMARKS  BY  THE  REV.  DR.  A.  ALEXANDER.      497 

on  account  of  the  miraculous  gifts  with  which  he  was  endowed, 
and  the  holy  boldness  and  eloquence  with  which  he  defended  the 
truth,  for  "  being  full  of  faith  and  power,  he  did  great  wonders 
and  miracles  among  the  people.  And  his  enemies  were  unable 
to  resist  the  wisdom  and  the  spirit  by  which  he  spake."  But 
when  confounded  in  argument,  they  had  recourse  to  violence,  and 
cast  him  out  of  the  city  and  stoned  Stephen,  calling  on  God,  and 
saying,  "  LORD  JESUS,  RECEIVE  MY  SPIRIT."  And  he  kneeled 
down  and  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  "LoRD,  LAY  NOT  THIS  SIN  TO 
THEIR  CHARGE;"  and  when  he  had  said  this,  he  fell  asleep. 
"  And  devout  men  carried  Stephen  to  his  burial,  AND  MADE 

GREAT  LAMENTATION  OVER*HIM." 

Here  we  find,  that  in  the  early  infancy  of  the  Church,  good 
and  useful  men  were  suffered  by  divine  providence  to  be  cut  off, 
when  their  services  were  more  needed  than  they  could  be  at  any 
future  time.  God  would  teach  us  that  he  is  not  dependent  on  any 
instruments  for  the  accomplishment  of  his  purposes.  The  death 
of  Stephen,  probably,  had  a  mighty  effect  on  the  minds  of  many 
who  were  present ;  and  from  among  his  bitterest  enemies,  there 
was  one  whom  God  had  determined  to  make  "  a  chosen  vessel"  to 
carry  the  Gospel  not  only  to  the  Jews,  but  to  a  multitude  of  the 
Gentile  nations. 

And  we  learn  from  this  part  of  Sacred  Scripture,  that  God 
does  not  forsake  his  devoted  servants,  when  surrounded  by  ene- 
mies, and  while  suffering  the  agonies  of  death.  Stephen  saw 
heaven  opened  and  the  Son  of  Man  standing  at  the  right  hand 
of  God.  And  he  was  enabled  to  die  in  the  full  assurance  of  hope; 
and,  with  his  last  breath,  to  imitate  his  divine  Master,  by  invok- 
ing mercy  for  his  murderers.  And  although  we  are  not  permitted 
to  know  in  what  state  of  mind  our  dear  young  brother  met  death, 
we  have  good  reason  to  conclude  that  his  covenant  God  did  not 
forsake  him  in  that  trying  hour.  Very  likely  his  last  breath  was 
spent  in  prayers  for  the  salvation  of  his  murderers. 

That  the  death  of  Mr.  Lowrie  is  a  great  loss  to  the  Church, 
and  particularly  to  the  cause  of  missions,  none  will  doubt.  Re- 
ligiously educated  from  his  youth,  and*  in  a  family  imbued  with 
the  missionary  spirit,  he  early  turned  his  thoughts  to  the  condition 
of  the  blinded,  perishing  heathen.  With  this  object  in  view,  he 
commenced  his  theological  education.  During  his  whole  course, 
it  is  believed,  his  purpose  remained  unshaken  ;  and  all  his  plans 
and  studies  were  prosecuted  with  a  direct  view  to  this  object. 
Possessed  of  a  vigorous  and  well-balanced  mind,  and  of  cheerful, 
equable  temper,  his  progress  in  learning  was  rapid,  and  what  he 
acquired,  he  retained.  With  him  no  time  was  wasted,  for  even 
his  hours  of  relaxation  from  seveve  study  were  spent  in  some  use- 
ful employment. 

He  was  willing  to  encounter  all  the  dangers  of  the  deleterious 
climate  of  Africa,  and  would  have  made  that  dark  region  the 
field  of  his  labors,  had  it  not  appeared  to  all  his  friends  that  he 

32 


498  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.    LOWRIE. 

was  eminently  qualified  for  the  China  mission,  that  great  country 
having  unexpectedly  been  opened  for  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel. 
Our  young  brother  accordingly  embarked  for  that  important  field; 
but  before  his  station  was  finally  chosen,  he  met  with  extraordi- 
nary difficulties  and  dangers.  In  one  of  his  voyages  he  was  ship- 
wrecked ;  the  vessel  was  abandoned  at  sea,  and  the  crew  and 
himself  were  exposed  to  a  rough  sea,  in  an  open  boat,  for  many 
days  ;  and  when  they  approached  the  shore,  were,  by  a  mani- 
fest interposition  of  providence,  enabled  to  land,  when  at  almost 
any  other  time  their  boat  must  have  been  swamped. 

Since  his  arrival  in  China,  he  devoted  himself  assiduously  to  the 
acquisition  of  the  very  difficult  language  of  the  country ;  and  there 
is  reason  to  believe  with  uncommon  success.  But  not  contented 
merely  to  acquire  the  language,  he  deemed  it  very  important  to 
make  himself  acquainted  with  the  literature,  and  especially  with 
what  may  be  termed  the  classical  literature  of  the  Chinese.  From 
communications  received  in* this  country,  there  is  reason  to  think 
that  he  was  making  rapid  progress  in  this  species  of  knowledge. 

Besides  the  acquisition  of  the  provincial  dialect  of  Ningpo,  where 
he  had  his  station,  he  had  formed  the  purpose  of  learning  theMan- 
chu  Tartar  language,  which  differs  from  that  of  China  in  that  an 
alphabetical  character  is  used ;  and  it  is  understood  that  this  is 
becoming  more  and  more  popular,  and  from  its  superior  conve 
nience,  will  probably  prevail.  From  these  and  other  considera 
tions  it  is  evident  that  our  Church  and  the  cause  of  missions  has 
experienced  a  great  loss  in  the  death  of  Mr.  Lowrie.  It  ought  to 
be  mentioned,  also,  that  with  other  missionaries,  he  was,  when 
called  away,  earnestly  engaged  in  revising  and  correcting  the  ver- 
sion of  the  New  Testament  into  the  Chinese  tongue.  For  this 
work  he  was  eminently  qualified  by  his  learning,  and  by  his  nice 
discrimination  and  turn  for  accuracy  in  matters  of  this  kind. 
When  sent  for  to  Ningpo,  he  had  been  for  between  two  and  three 
months  at  Shanghai,  engaged  with  Bishop  Boone,  Dr.  Bridgeman 
and  others  in  this  work. 

It  is,  then,  neither  unreasonable  nor  unscriptural  that  great 
lamentation  should  be  made  on  account  of  his  death.  Though 
none  can  be  expected  to  experience  the  same  kind  and  degree  of 
grief  as  his  venerable  father  and  near  kindred,  yet  many  others 
deeply  sympathize  with  them  in  their  lamentations  ;  and  it  may 
be  presumed  none  have  felt  this  stroke  more  pungently  than  his 
brethren  of  the  mission.  To  them  the  bereavement  is  indeed 
great  and  lamentable.  But  this  feeling  is  not  confined  to  the 
missionaries  of  the  Presbyterian  church  ;  others  will  feel  sorely 
that  a  heavy  judgment  has  fallen  upon  them.  This  is  manifest 
from  the  affectionate  and  excellent  letter  of  Bishop  Boone  to  Mr. 
Lowrie's  father.  He  says  :  "  This  event  has  thrown  my  family,  who 
had  the  privilege  to  enjoy  his  company  for  the  last  two  months  and 
a  half,  into  the  deepest  affliction.  Dearly  as  I  know  he  was  be- 
loved by  the  mission  with  which  he  was  connected,  yet,  I  believe. 


REMARKS  BY  THE  REV.  DR.  A.  ALEXANDER.      499 

no  one  in  China  mourns  his  loss  as  I  do."  And  no  doubt  the 
same  feeling  pervades  the  whole  of  the  missionaries  who  have  had 
any  opportunity  of  acquaintance  with  our  departed  brother. 

We  may,  therefore,  lament  the  death  of  such  a  man.  so  beloved, 
and  so  well  qualified  to  be  useful  in  the  most  important  work 
which  is  going  on  in  this  world.  But  though  we  are  permitted  to 
sorrow,  yet  not  to  repine.  When  Aaron's  impious  sons  were  struck 
dead  in  the  sanctuary,  "  he  held  his  peace  ;"  he  uttered  no  com- 
plaint. And  when  Eli  heard  the  prophet's  prediction  respecting 
the  judgment  about  to  be  inflicted  on  his  wicked  sons,  he  said,  "It 
is  the  Lord,  let  him  do  what  seemeth  him  good."  Perfect  sub- 
mission is  consistent  with  the  most  heart-felt  sorrow.  Indeed,  the 
deeper  the  grief,  the  more  virtuous  the  submission. 

This  event,  I  think,  is  a  solemn  call  of  Providence  to  our  whole 
Church.  It  is  evidently  a  token  of  the  displeasure  of  our  heavenly 
Father.  God,  by  thus  taking  away  one  of  the  most  eminent  of 
our  missionary  corps,  evidently  calls  the  Presbyterian  church  to  a 
solemn  consideration  of  their  ways ;  to  an  earnest  inquiry  whether, 
as  a  body,  we  have  done  our  duty  ;  and  especially  in  relation  to 
China.  Some  twenty  years  ago,  the  writer  heard  a  speaker  at  a 
missionary  meeting  in  Philadelphia,  say,  "If  a  hundred  missiona- 
ries should  now  enter  China,  at  different  points,  and  every  one  of 
them  should  immediately  be  put  to  death,  this  would  be  a  cheap 
sacrifice,  if  thereby  that  populous  country  should  be  opened  for  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel."  At  that  time,  the  most  sanguine  did 
not  dare  to  hope  for  such  an  event  in  their  day.  But  God,  by  a 
wonderful  Providence,  has  set  the  door  wide  open.  Not  merely 
one,  but  five  great  cities  are  made  accessible,  and  the  right  of  resi- 
dence and  Christian  worship  secured  by  treaty.  In  consequence, 
a  number  of  the  most  promising  and  best  educated  men  offered 
their  services,  ?nd  were  sent.  But  did  the  Church  appreciate  the 
importance  of  this  extraordinary  dispensation  of  Providence  ?  Did 
she  arouse  herself  from  her  long  sleep,  and  come  to  the  help  of  the 
Lord  against  the  mighty  ;  did  she  enlarge  her  spirit  of  liberality, 
and  begin  t»  wrestle  with  God  in  fervent,  incessant  prayer  for  this 
empire,  which  conti  ias  one  third  of  the  population  of  the  globe  ? 
She  did  not.  Had  it  not,  been  for  the  generous  donation  of  a  few 
individuals,  the  Board  would  not  have  been  able  to  send  out  the 
promising  men  who  offered.  And  even  now,  there  exists  a  gen- 
eral apathy.  A  few  churches  and  a  few  individuals  seem  to  be 
sensible  of  the  solemn,  responsible  circumstances  in  which  we  who 
live  in  this  age  are  placed.  Professors  of  religion  are  too  gener- 
ally occupied  with  their  own  concerns  ;  every  one  is  attending  to 
his  farm  or  his  merchandise  ;  few  have  any  deep  feeling  for  the 
ark  of  God.  Each  one  will  build  and  decorate  his  own  house, 
while  the  house  of  God  is  desolate. 

Let  the  churches,  then,  consider  this  awful  dispensation,  as  one 
in  which  they  have  a  deep  concern.  Let  the  solemn  inquiry  be 
made  in  all  our  churches,  and  through  all  our  borders,  whether 


500  MEMOIR    OF    WALTER    M.  LOWRIE. 

they  have  not  been  delinquent  in  their  duty  to  the  missionaries  in 
China.  Yea,  let  every  individual  ask  himself,  Have  I  done  my 
duty  ?  Have  I  remembered  daily,  as  I  ought,  those  devoted  men  ? 
Have  I  borne  them  feelingly  on  my  heart  to  the  throne  of  grace  ? 
Have  I  given  as  liberally  of  my  substance  to  promote  this  object 
as  I  ought?  Such  inquiries,  honestly  made,  would,  I  believe, 
bring  conviction  home  to  almost  every  bosom.  What,  then,  shall 
be  the  result  ?  Having  done  amiss,  is  it  our  solemn  purpose,  by 
the  help  of  the  Lord,  to  do  so  no  more  ?  Let  us,  then,  take  words 
and  return  unto  the  Lord  who  hath  smitten  us.  "  Let  the  priests 
weep  between  the  porch  and  the  altar,  and  let  them  say.  spare  thy 
people,  O  Lord." 

If  it  should  please  our  heavenly  Father  to  make  this  distressing 
bereavement  the  means  of  awakening  all  our  churches  to  the  sol- 
emn consideration  of  their  duty,  as  it  relates  to  missions  in  gen- 
eral, and  to  China  in  particular,  then  will  this  sore  judgment  be 
turned  into  mercy.  Let  all  the  friends  of  Zion  wrestle  with  God 
until  he  grant  this  result.  Let  them  say,  "  For  Zion's  sake  I  will 
not  hold  my  peace,  and  for  Jerusalem's  sake  I  will  not  be  silent, 
until  the  righteousness  thereof  go  forth  as  brightness,  and  the  sal- 
vation thereof  as  a  lamp  that  burneth."  Such  importunity  is  never 
offensive.  Jacob  said  to  the  Angel  of  the  Covenant,  "  I  will  not 
let  thee  go  until  thou  bless  me."  And  God  commands  us  "to  give 
him  no  rest,  till  he  establish,  and  till  he  make  Jerusalem  a  praise 
in  the  earth."  Let  every  true  Presbyterian  resolve  that,  during 
the  year,  now  commenced,  he  will  bear  on  his  heart  before  the 
throne  of  grace,  the  perishing  condition  of  the  heathen,  and  the 
wants  of  our  foreign  missionaries,  with  far  greater  frequency  and 
fervency  than  during  the  year  which  is  past.  And,  as  our  mission- 
aries may  be  recalled  unless  funds  are  provided  by  the  Church  for 
their  support,  let  every  man,  and  woman,  and  child  consider  whether 
God  does  not  require  of  them  to  do  much  more  in  the  way  of  con- 
tribution thkn  they  have  heretofore  done  ;  and  see  whether,  from 
the  very  day  from  which  you  commence  a  new  course,  God  will 
riot  bless  you  in  a  special  manner.  "  Bring  ye  all  the  tithes  into 
the  storehouse  that  there  may  be  meat  in  mine  house,  and  prove 
me  now  herewith,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  if  I  will  not  open  you 
the  windows  of  heaven  and  pour  you  out  a  blessing,  that  there 
shall  not  be  room  enough  to  receive  it."  Mai.  iii.  10. — Missionary 
Chronicle:  February,  1848. 


THE 

REV.  WALTER  M.  LOWRIE, 

A    MISSIONARY 


THE  CHINESE. 


BORN  FEB.  18th,  1819. 
DIKD  Auo.  19th,  1847. 


"I  am  a  Stranger  In  the  Earth."— Ps.  cxix.  19 


SECOND     SIDE. 

IN    CHINESE. 

The  American  teacher  of  the  religion  of  Jesus,  Low-le-wha,  Seen  Sang, 
[i.  e.  Mr.  Lowrie.]  Born  in  [the  reign  of]  Kea-King,  24th  year,  1st  month, 
26th  day.  Died  in  [the  reign  of]  Taou-Kwang,  27th  year,  7th  month, 
9th  day.  Reckoning  back  in  [the  reign  of]  Taou-Kwang,  the  22d  year, 
4th  month,  18th  day,  he  arrived  at  Macao,  China.  The  25th  year,  3d 
month,  5th  day,  he  reached  Ningpo;  in  order  to  propagate  the  holy  re- 
ligion. How  can  we  know  whether  a  long  or  a  short  life  is  appointed  for 
us  ?  He  had  but  attained  the  age  of  twenty-nine  years,  when,  travelling 
by  sea,  he  was  drowned  by  pirates.  Of  all  his  associates  there  is  none 
who  does  not  cherish  his  memory,  and  they  have  accordingly  erected  this 
stone  as  a  testimony  of  their  affection. 

THIRD     SIDE. 

He  was  attacked  by  pirates  near  Chapoo,  and  being  thrown  overboard, 
perished  in  the  sea. 

FOURTH    SIDE. 

IN    CHINESE. 

The  Holy  Book  says — It  is  appointed  unto  man  once  to  die,  and  after 
this  the  judgment,  for  the  hour  is  coming  in  which  all  that  are  in  the 
graves  shall  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  shall  come  forth,  they 
that  have  done  good  unto  the  resurrection  of  life,  and  they  that  have  done 
evil  unto  the  resurrection  of  damnation. 

The  shaft  is  4  feet  G  inches  high ;  2  feet  7  inches  wide  at  the  bottom, 
and  1  foot  9  inches  at  the  top.  The  stone  is  a  hard  and  smooth  kind  of 
granite,  capable  of  a  tolerable  polish. 


SECOND  SIDE. 


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